A gastric emptying scan is an imaging test. It measures how quickly food travels from the stomach into the small bowel (intestine). During the test, you’re given a meal to eat that contains a small amount of radioactive substance (tracer). Then scans of the stomach are done. The tracer shows up clearly on the scans and tracks the movement of the food through your stomach. This test is most often needed if you have symptoms that suggest a motility problem. Motility refers to the movement of the muscles in the digestive tract. The test takes about 5 hours.
Before the Test
- Let your doctor know of any medications you’re taking. This includes vitamins, herbs, and over-the-counter medications. Certain medications may need to be stopped for a time in the days before the test.
- Don’t eat or drink anything starting from 6 hours before the test.
- Follow any other instructions given by your doctor.
With a gastric emptying scan, a machine called a scanner is used to take pictures of your stomach.
Let the Technologist Know
For your safety, let the technologist know if you:
- Are taking any medications.
- Had recent x-rays or tests involving other substances, such as barium.
- Have current symptoms of nausea or vomiting.
- Had recent surgery.
- Have other health problems, such as diabetes.
- Have any allergies.
- Are pregnant or may be pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding.
During the Test
A gastric emptying scan takes place in a hospital. It is performed by a technologist trained in nuclear medicine or radiology.
- You’ll be given a meal to eat. This can be a solid food, such as eggs, or a liquid, such as water. Both the food and drink contain a small amount of tracer. The tracer has no flavor. If you’re allergic to the food to be given, another type of food is used instead.
- After you finish the meal, you’ll be asked to lie on your back on an exam table.
- Pictures of your stomach are then taken with a machine called a scanner. You must lie still during this process. The scanner uses technology that can detect the amount of tracer in the stomach. As food is emptied from the stomach, the amount of tracer decreases. This allows the technologist to measure the rate at which food is leaving the stomach.
- More pictures of your stomach are taken at different times. This usually occurs after 1, 2, and 4 hours of eating the meal. You can leave the room between the times the pictures are taken. But do not eat or drink anything or perform any strenuous activities during this period.
- Once the last set of pictures has been taken, the test is complete.
After the Test
You can go home shortly after the test. A nuclear medicine doctor or radiologist will go over the test results with your doctor. Your doctor will then review the test results with you. This is likely within a few days of the test.
Risks and Possible Complications of This Test
There is a small amount of radiation exposure from the tracer. This amount is not considered to be dangerous. But it can carry certain risks if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be sure to talk to your doctor about these risks before you have the study.
© 2000-2009 The StayWell Company, 780 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.
