Gastro-esophageal reflux demonstrated by radiography in infants less than 1 year of age. Comparison with pH monitoring

PURPOSE: To correlate gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) demonstrated on radiography, with reflux determined on 24-h pH monitoring among infants of less than 1 year of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one infants with suspected GER were examined. In the supine position the infants drank 20-60 ml of barium contrast, and the presence or absence of hiatal hernia, gastric outlet obstruction, or intestinal malrotation was evaluated. The infant was placed in the 25 degrees right oblique supine position and fed 2-3 swallows of milk by a feeding bottle. GER was scored as positive on radiography when the contrast column reached a level of at least 3 vertebral segments above the gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ). An antimony intraluminal esophageal pH probe was positioned 2 vertebral segments above the GEJ as identified by the barium swallow, confirmed on radiography after positioning and prior to probe removal. A total time of esophageal pH <4 exceeding 5% was assigned as pathological. RESULTS: The radiological method of GER evaluation showed a specificity of 50% and a sensitivity of 29%, as compared to 24-h pH monitoring. CONCLUSION: The radiological method was of no value among infants of less than 1 year when demonstrating GER.