[Comparison of long-term pH-metry and radiological studies in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux].

The authors examined 28 children, mean age 12 months (26 days to 5 years), for a suspected gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), by two method of diagnosis: 24 hours continuous pH-monitoring and radiology. They found a first group (11 cases) with both of these methods negative; a second group (7 cases) with GER confirmed by pH-monitoring, but with negative radiology: a third group (6 cases) where both of these methods resulted positive and eventually a fourth group (4 cases) where radiology showed the presence of GER, not confirmed by pH-monitoring. The Authors conclude that continuous pH-monitoring for its accuracy, would have to be only first degree method in diagnosis of GER. In some cases the second level method is endoscopy whereas radiology is a third level one, to show associated malformations.