Esophageal transit scintigraphy

When physiologic transit processes are of concern, the tracer method comes into play. Swallowing is no exception. Esophageal transit scintigraphy (ETS), a relatively new addition to the armamentarium of tests for esophageal motility disorders, uniquely monitors the transit of a variety of swallowed materials by means of a radioactive label. It is well accepted by patients, entails a low radiation dose, and is quantifiable. In this chapter, the authors review the following: the normal esophagus and its impairment in motility disorders; the non-nuclear diagnostic tests that are available to study these disorders; and the methodology, analysis, and utility of ETS. This material leads to some conclusions regarding the present status and future directions of ETS