Limited value of technetium 99m-labeled red cell scintigraphy in localization of lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · American Journal of Surgery; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9610(05)81256-5· OSTI ID:6870543

Hunter, J M; Pezim, M E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada)

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of technetium 99m-labeled red cell scintigraphy in localizing the site of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The outcome of 203 patients undergoing technetium 99m-labeled red cell scintigraphy was reviewed, and the scan result was compared with the true site of bleeding. The true site of bleeding was determined by other methods including angiography and surgical pathology. Fifty-two scans (26%) were positive and indicated a specific site of bleeding. A definitive bleeding site was identified in 22 patients by other means and correlated with the technetium scan in only 9 cases. The nuclear scan was incorrect in the remaining 13 cases, implying a localization error of 25% (13 of 52). A subgroup of 19 patients with a positive scan underwent a surgical procedure directed by the nuclear scan. Eight of these 12 patients had incorrect surgical procedures based upon findings of more definitive tests, indicating a surgical error of 42% (8 of 19). We conclude that the technetium 99m-labeled red cell scan's ability to accurately localize the site of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is limited. Furthermore, performing a surgical procedure that relies exclusively on localization by red cell scintigraphy will produce an undesirable result in at least 42% of patients.

• OSTI ID: 6870543
• Journal Information: American Journal of Surgery; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Surgery; (USA) Vol. 159:5; ISSN 0002-9610; ISSN AJSUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
ERYTHROCYTES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HEMORRHAGE
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
PRIMATES
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SYMPTOMS
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES