Value of Tests for Evaluation of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children

The accuracy of five tests for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in children was performed in 93 symptomatic children with gastroesophageal reflux and 16 nonreflux patients. These tests include the barium esophagram, the Tuttle test, extended esophageal pH monitoring, esophagoscopy, and esophageal biopsy. Esophagoscopy was less sensitive in detecting reflux in patients than any other test (P = less than 0.001), and biopsy was more likely to identify reflux patients than the barium swallow (P = less than 0.02), but there was no test superior to others. The severity of esophagitis noted at endoscopy or the presence of eosinophils or neutrophils in the mucosa was not associated with a decreased possibility that one other test would be normal or that surgical repair of the reflux would be performed. Patients with extended esophageal pH test scores markedly elevated were less likely to have another negative test (P = less than 0.01) and more likely to have surgical repair of gastroesophageal reflux (P = less than 0.001). Obtaining two tests of esophageal function that agree increases the certainty of diagnosis, and use of several tests are indicated if the results of a single test do not support the clinical impression.