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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of pyloric stenosis can mimic those of other conditions that cause infant vomiting, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Your baby's doctor may use various strategies to make the diagnosis:
- Medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about your baby's vomiting. Describe any patterns in when the vomiting occurs and what the vomit looks like. Note how much liquid your baby vomits and whether the vomit is forcefully projected.
- Physical exam. Your baby's doctor may feel an olive-shaped lump — the enlarged pyloric muscle — when examining your baby's abdomen.
- Blood tests. The loss of electrolytes — such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium — may be a sign of continual vomiting and dehydration.
- Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create an image of your baby's stomach.
- Contrast X-ray. For this test, your baby swallows a small amount of a liquid that coats the stomach. This contrast material helps any abnormalities show up more clearly on an X-ray.
