Diagnosis Of Gastroparesis. Diagnosing Delayed Gastric Emptying

Diagnosing gastroparesis can be tricky. One of the best ways to determine whether or not you have gastroparalysis is through a complete gastric emptying scintigraphy.

With a complete gastric emptying scintigraphy, a doctor will give the patient low dose radiation food and use a device to detect the radiation which will allow the doctor to follow the food along the digestive tract.

If the food does not go down the digestive tract, or goes down too slowly, gastroparesis is indicated.

If the patient or doctor is not aware of the possibility the condition might be gastroparesis, and the doctor is not familiar with the condition he or she may see a delayed gastric emptying test as a failure if the food doesn't go down the digestive tract as it should.

If this is the case, and the patient suspects gastroparesis is the cause they should inform their doctor of the possibility so that they know what they are looking for.