Quantitative esophageal scintigraphy: how reproducible is this test?

TO THE EDITOR: We read with interest the article by Tatsch et al (/). This article reports the diagnostic performance of optimized esophageal scintigraphy using the multiple swallow technique, which was shown to be close to that of manometry. and supports previous findings of this group (2,3). The method clearly discriminates between normal and pathologic function with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 98%. Unfortunately, in all reports concerning this method, no data are provided on the reproducibility of the test, either in patients or healthy individuals. As long as these data are not available, this technique cannot be recommended to be used in clinical practice, especially not for monitoring progression of or therapeutic effects on esophageal dysmotility. We therefore kindly ask Tatsch and colleagues to provide us with data on reproducibility of this test.