The uterine blush. A potential false-positive in Meckel's scan interpretation

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00003072-198210000-00002· OSTI ID:6430581

Fink-Bennett, D

To determine the presence, prevalence, and clinical importance of /sup 99m/Tc pertechnetate uterine uptake, this retrospective analysis of 71 Meckel's scans was undertaken. Specifically, each study was evaluated for the presence of a focal accumulation of radiotracer cephalad to the bladder. Patients received an intravenous dose of 150 microCi/kg of /sup 99m/Tc pertechnetate. Each study consisted of 15 one minute anterior serial gamma camera images, and a 15, 30, and 60 minute anterior, right lateral and posterior scintiscan. Menstrual histories were obtained from all patients except two. No males (33/33), nor premenstrual (13/13), menopausal (4/4) or posthysterectomy (2/2) patients revealed a uterine blush. Eleven of 15 patients (73%) with regular menses demonstrated a uterine blush. They were in the menstrual or secretory phases of their cycle. Four demonstrated no uterine uptake, had regular periods, but were in the proliferative phase of their cycle. Two with irregular periods, and one with no recorded menstrual history, manifested the blush. Radiotracer should be expected in the uterus during the menstrual and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle. It is a manifestation of a normal physiologic phenomenon, and must be recognized to prevent false-positive Meckel's scan interpretations.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Medicine Department, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
• OSTI ID: 6430581
• Journal Information: Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 7:10; ISSN CNMED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
ESTROUS CYCLE
FEMALE GENITALS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
UPTAKE
USES
UTERUS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES