What diagnostic test can assess both reflux and gastric emptying?

The nuclear scintiscan is a valuable diagnostic test that effectively assesses both gastroesophageal reflux and gastric emptying. This test utilizes a small amount of radioactive material to trace the movement of food and assess how quickly it leaves the stomach.

In the context of reflux, the scintiscan can help demonstrate whether there is an abnormal amount of reflux occurring into the esophagus, as it visualizes the pathway of the ingested substance. Moreover, by measuring the time taken for the stomach to empty, the scintiscan provides insights into gastric motility and potential disorders related to delayed gastric emptying, which can contribute to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and fullness after meals.

While other options like the upper gastrointestinal series primarily focus on anatomical evaluation and identifying structural abnormalities, they do not provide direct insight into gastric emptying rates. Colonoscopy is used for viewing the interior of the colon and diagnosing lower gastrointestinal issues and would not assess gastric emptying or reflux. Duodenal intubation is more focused on sampling contents for specific laboratory analyses and doesn't provide a thorough assessment of gastric emptying or reflux events in real time.

Thus, the nuclear scintiscan's dual capability to investigate both reflux and gastric emptying makes it the appropriate choice for this diagnostic