Milk scan Factsheet

Introduction

A milk scan checks if milk or liquids are flowing back up from your child’s stomach into their oesophagus, also known as the food pipe. This can be caused by a condition called gastroesophageal reflux.

The milk scan uses:

a Gamma camera - a large camera that measures radiation
radiotracer – radioactive fluid that moves through the body.

The radiotracer is mixed into your child’s feed and swallowed. The gamma camera takes images of the radiotracer moving through your child’s oesophagus.

Before the scan

Your child must stop eating and drinking for four hours before the scan. This is called fasting nil by mouth, and it means no solid food or fluids, including breast milk and infant formula.

You will need to bring:

enough infant formula or expressed breast milk for one feed
any bottle-feeding equipment you would usually use
any tube attachments your child needs for feeding.

Let your child's treatment team know if they have any special feeding needs, including:

a nasogastric (NG) tube - a tube that passes through the nose into the stomach
a PEG tube - a tube placed directly into the stomach through the belly.

Your child will be weighed to help calculate the correct amount of radiotracer.

The risks of radiation and allergic reactions are very low. Let your child’s treatment team know if they have any allergies.

Talk to your child's doctor or treatment team if you have any concerns or questions.

During the scan

The scan takes about 1.5 hours; you can stay with your child the entire time.

Your child will not feel anything during the scan, and the radiotracer will not change the taste of your child’s milk or formula.

Mixing the radiotracer

a small amount of radiotracer is mixed with around 10 ml of your child’s milk or formula
your child will drink this small amount of mixed milk or formula
your child will then drink the rest of their milk or formula.

If your child has an NG tube, it will be removed after the feed to ensure accurate scan results. Speak to your child’s treatment team about replacing the tube after the scan.

The scan

your child will lie on the scanning bed
a blanket with velcro straps may be used to help keep your child still
your child will be moved into different positions while pictures are taken of their oesophagus, including:

lying on their back
on each side
on their tummy
sitting up
on their back again.

After the scan

You can leave once the results are checked by a doctor or nuclear medicine scientist.

The results will be sent to your child’s doctor within a couple of days. You will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your child’s doctor to discuss the results.

Management

Radiation

Your child will be exposed to a small amount of radiation during the scan. The benefits of finding and treating kidney problems are greater than the small risk of this low dose.

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions to radiotracer are very rare and usually mild. Your child’s doctor will talk to you about any potential risks before the scan. Let your child’s treatment team know if they have any allergies.

Supporting your child during the scan

Scans can be stressful for children. You can help by:

explaining why the test is needed and how it works in simple words
bringing comfort items like a blanket, toy, or dummy
asking the treatment team about support from Child Life Therapy services.