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Real‐Time Ultrasound Reveals Gastric Motor Abnormalities in Children Investigated for Dyspeptic Symptoms

Summary: Real-time ultrasonography (US) of the gastric antrum after ingestion of a mixed solid-liquid meal was performed in 60 patients (median age, 8.2 years; range, 3–17) being investigated for symptoms suggesting upper intestinal dysfunction (vomiting, regurgitation, abdominal pain, early saticty, and anorexia) and in 13 controls (median age, 5 years; range, 3–15). The diagnostic work-up allowed identification of 14 patients with esophagitis (group A) and 26 with Helicobacter pylori (HP) gastritis (group B); median age in group A was 9 years (range, 3–15) and in group B was 9.5 years (range, 3–17). Group A patients had significantly more prolonged gastric-emptying times (median, 180 min; range, 110–270) than did controls (median, 150 min; range, 110–180; p < 0.01); however, group A times were not significantly longer than those of group B patients (median, 160 min; range, 90–265). In the remaining 20 patients (group C; median age, 7.1 years; range, 3–15) without a specific diagnosis, markedly delayed gastric emptying was detected (median, 237 min; range, 165–270; p < 0.01 vs. group B patients and vs. controls; p < 0.05 vs. group A patients); in this group, Gl manometry revealed findings of deranged motility of the gut. Distension of the antral area (percentage of increase vs. baseline values) 60 and 90 min after feeding was higher in group C (60 min: median, 185%; range, 70–614%; 90 min: median, 175%; range, 60–400%) than in both controls (60 min: median, 80%; range 26–148%; 90 min: median 90%; range 20–253%; p < 0.01) and HP patients (60 min: median, 120%; range, 35–311%; 90 min: median, 98%; range, 23–400%; p < 0.05); there was no significant difference versus esophagitis patients. The latter differed from controls only for the 60-min postfeeding antral distension (p < 0.01), whereas HP patients did not differ from controls. In group C patients, symptomatic dyspeptic score correlated with both 60− and 90-min fed antral distension (r = 0.61 and r = 0.64, respectively; p < 0.05), but no correlation was found with gastric-emptying time. In group A patients, histologic score of esophagitis correlated with 60-min postfeeding antral distension (r = 0.56; p < 0.05), whereas poor correlation was found with 90-min postfeeding antral distension and with gastric-emptying time. However, the latter significantly correlated with 90-min fed antral distension in esophagitis patients (r = 0.70; p < 0.01). We conclude that US imaging of the antral area of the stomach reveals abnormalities of gastric motility in most children referred for dyspeptic symptoms; this technique should be included among the investigative tools in the diagnostic approach to these patients.