Radiologic Diagnosis of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux

It has been proposed that the high density of ordinary barium suspensions may complicate the radiologic diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux. For this reason P-contrast was developed (Ferring AB); a contrast medium with thesame density as water (1 gcm3). A comparison of P-contrast andbarium (Mixobar Ven-trike1 400 mgml) was performed in 82 patients. All patients were examined with both contrast media and the findings were compared with those at reflux test at manometry, endoscopy and 24-hour pH monitoring. Another 40 patients and 15 symptom-free controls were examined with two different amounts of barium, 100 ml and 200 ml, to study if the radiologic diagnosis of reflux varied with the volume of contrast medium administered. P-contrast was found to have no advantages over barium for the diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux. The outcome of the radiologic examination was not influenced by the different volumes of barium used.