Meckel's diverticulum in infants and children; technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy and clinical findings

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Congenital Anomalies

Background:

• Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital gastrointestinal anomaly.
• Ectopic gastric mucosa within Meckel's diverticulum can lead to complications like bleeding and perforation.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy for detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in pediatric Meckel's diverticulum.
• To analyze scintigraphic findings in relation to clinical presentation and surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of scintigraphic data from 107 pediatric patients.
• Patients underwent Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy for suspected Meckel's diverticulum.
• Correlation of scintiscan results with surgical findings.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one out of 107 patients (19.6%) showed positive findings for functioning gastric tissue.
• The most common presenting symptom was rectal bleeding.
• Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy demonstrated an 84.2% true positive rate for diagnosing Meckel's diverticulum.

Conclusions:

• Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy is a reliable diagnostic tool for identifying ectopic gastric mucosa in pediatric Meckel's diverticulum.
• The study confirms the high true positive rate of scintigraphy in this patient population.
• Early diagnosis facilitates timely surgical intervention and improved patient outcomes.