• Daphne Ang, Kwong Ming Fock, Ngai Moh Law, and Tiing Leong Ang.
• Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street, Singapore 529889.ang_daphne@yahoo.com.
• Singapore Med J. 2015 Feb 1; 56 (2): 698069-79; quiz 80.

AbstractNeurogastroenterology and motility disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract encompass a broad spectrum of diseases involving the GI tract and central nervous system. They have varied pathophysiology, clinical presentation and management, and make up a substantial proportion of outpatient clinic visits. Typically, patients experience persistent symptoms referable to the GI tract despite normal endoscopic and radiologic findings. An appropriate evaluation is thus important in the patient's care. Advances in technology and understanding of the disease pathophysiology have provided better insight into the physiological basis of disease and a more rational approach to patient management. While technological advances serve to explain patients' persistent symptoms, they should be balanced against the costs of diagnostic tests. This review highlights the GI investigative modalities employed to evaluate patients with persistent GI symptoms in the absence of a structural lesion, with particular emphasis on investigative modalities available locally and the clinical impact of such tools.

18 keywords...

hide…