The Clinical Value of Serial Radionuclide Gastric-Emptying Scintigraphy for Objective Evaluation of Gastroparesis in a Patient with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Post Corrective Surgery

Abstract

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The condition results from compression of the duodenum between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, which causes an impairment of gastric emptying and associated chronic symptoms. There is a need to objectively assess the severity of gastric-emptying disorder in these patients post-treatment to assess the efficacy of the conservative or surgical management. We report here a case of a patient where the radionuclide gastric-emptying study was crucial in monitoring the effectiveness of surgical management of this syndrome.

Keywords

• superior mesenteric artery syndrome
• gastric emptying
• tc-99m tin colloid
• gastroparesis
• duodenojejunostomy