The Clinical or Radiographic Diagnosis of Gastroptosis: Still Relevant?

Abstract

Introduction: Gastroptosis was a frequent diagnosis in former days, however in current practice
it is a rare diagnosis with uncertain etiology, with only a few number of studies to support it.
Gastroptosis is diagnosed on a nupper gastrointestinal (GI) study by the downward displacement
of the greater curve of the stomach below the level of the iliac crests in a standing position.
Gastroptosis could possibly cause GI symptoms and delayed gastric emptying, but the relation
is unknown, especially in children. This study addresses the association of GI symptoms
and gastroptosis in children in the Netherlands.
Methods: We present a retrospective study of all children aged 6 to 18 years who underwent an
upper GI study of the stomach in a 5-year period in our university children’s hospital. Sixty of
one hundred sixty-one children were included in the analysis, of whom seven appeared to have
a radiological diagnosis of gastroptosis.
Results: GI symptoms were not significantly different between children with and without gastroptosis.
Compared to the control group, there was a significant higher incidence of decreased
gastric motility (p=0.004) in children with gastroptosis, as well as delayed gastric emptying
(p=0.045).
Conclusion: Children with gastroptosis did not have specific GI symptoms. Gastroptosis was
associated with decreased gastric motility and delayed gastric emptying, which could either be
the cause of the gastroptosis or a consequence. The radiologic diagnosis gastroptosis had no
consequence regarding treatment. Therefore, gastroptosis on an upper GI study seems clinically
irrelevant.