Leucocytes labelled with 99mTc-HMPAO in the detection of abdominal abscesses

To assess the value of 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled-leucocyte scintigraphy in the detection of abdominal abscesses, the results of 74 examinations in 69 patients suspected of having abscesses on clinical grounds were reviewed retrospectively. Of a final total of 29 abscesses in 28 patients, leucocyte scanning diagnosed 26, giving a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 90%, 91%, and 91%, respectively. In 22 patients abscesses were diagnosed within 30 min. In 13 of the 74 examinations (18%) an infection or inflammatory lesion other than an abscess was diagnosed. 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled-leucocyte scintigraphy is an accurate and rapid method of diagnosing abscesses in acutely ill patients.