Scanning of the oesoephagus in chronic internal diseases affecting the oseophagus

Functional scanning of the oesophagus using labelled fluid and semifluid food is suitable for early detection and follow-up chronic diseases affecting the oesophagus. The examination appears to be appropriate to evaluate the therapeutic success in oesophageal diseases and as a screening procedure to exclude functional impairments of the oesophagus in cases of questionable dysphagia or thoracic pain of unknown origin. The procedure is more sensitive and less invasive than the radiological and endoscopic procedures usually applied up to now. The documentation of results should include both qualitative and quantitative parameters because only a combination of these two parameters can largely eliminate the frequent impairments and artefacts. Documentation in the form of condensed images and the calculation of a residual condensation have proven to be simple and advantageous procedures. (orig.)