[TC-99m-pertechnetate scintigraphy in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases]

To show the possible role of abdominal scintigraphy in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal pathology and its accuracy in detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain.

99m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy was performed on 54 pts with a history of intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain with the following results: 11 true positive pts (9 with Meckel's D; 2 with enteric duplication) all of whom were confirmed at surgery; 14 false positive pts in whom the presence and location of entero-colic (12 pts), renal (2 pts), and uterine (1 pt) pathology were determined; 28 true negative pts; an arca of persistent low activity was found in the bladder of 1 pt which later proved to be a ureterocele at ultrasound; 1 false negative pt who was found to have Meckel's D at surgery.

In this case series abdominal scintigraphy was effective in diagnosing 26/54 pts and, in particular, in diagnosis, 23/28 pts in recurrent intestinal bleeding. Given that its sensitivity is not negligible and that it is an exam which is scarcely invasive, easy to perform and interpret and requires low irradiation (definitely lower than barium enemas, digestive tract radiography and CT), abdominal scintigraphy should be the first examination to be performed in all pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain, especially children, whose diagnosis cannot be simply or rapidly determined.