HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hershenson, L. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hershenson, L. M.

Rapid Diagnosis of Steatorrhea by External Counting of Abdomen After Iodine-131-Labeled Fat Administration

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ABSTRACT

External measurement of radioactivity remaining in the abdomen eight hours after oral administration of ¹³¹I-triolein or ¹³¹I-oleic acid offers a rapid method for detecting abnormal fat absorption. With counter collimation and geometry as described in this study, eight-hour external abdomen radioactivity counts in 21 subjects with normal digestion and absorption averaged 23.3 per cent of the administered dose (standard deviation 6.6 per cent). In 21 patients with various abnormalities of gastrointestinal function, the results of the external abdomen absorption measurements were correlated with the clinical status and with fecal radioactivity measurement of ¹³¹I labeled fat absorption.

The experiences of this study indicate that this method can detect abnormal fat absorption rapidly. Because the test can be completed in one day, the need for cooperation by the patient is minimized. A normal dietary intake is not required, and stool specimens are saved only during the eight-hour test period. Patients with gastric retention or marked urinary retention are not suitable for this test, however.

FOOTNOTES

¹ Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.