Gastric Emptying Scan

A gastric emptying scan is used to assess the functioning of the stomach and upper GI tract.

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FAQs

  • You will need to fast for a minimum of 4 hours prior.

    Avoid taking any medication that affects your stomach or GI tract.

    If there is any chance you may be pregnant or you are breast-feeding, please contact our team directly for specific instructions.

    • On arrival you will be asked to eat a small meal with a cup of water.
    • On completion of the meal scanning will commence straight away.
    • This normally comprises of 1 image every hour for 4 hours. Each image takes approximately 5mins.
    • During the break between images you must not eat or drink anything until the completion of the study.
    • There are no side effects to the tracer used in the meal.
  • Queensland X-Ray has the latest nuclear medicine equipment, with SPECT/CT available across all departments.

    One of our nuclear medicine technologists will perform your gastric emptying scan, under the supervision of one of our nuclear medicine specialists.

    The images the technologist acquires are reviewed by a specialist who reports on the findings. The report will be sent to your referring doctor, who will explain the findings to you. Technologists performing the scan do not discuss scan results with you.

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How much will it cost?

Fees for radiology procedures will vary depending on a variety of factors. We will advise you about the cost of your service at the time of booking but if you do have any questions, contact us and one of our team will be happy to help with your query. You can read more about our billing information here.

How do I access my images?

At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.

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