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Difficulty in identifying a bleeding Meckel's diverticulum: case report and review of the literature

Robert A Brenes1, Hussain M A Abbas, J Alexander Palesty

  • 1Saint Mary's Hospital, The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Waterbury, USA.

Connecticut Medicine
|July 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Meckel's diverticulum, a common congenital anomaly, is often misdiagnosed in adults. Bladder lavage during scintigraphy can improve accuracy in identifying this gastrointestinal issue.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Meckel's diverticulum is the most frequent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Diagnosis typically relies on technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, which exhibits limited accuracy in adult patients.
  • Recurrent bleeding from Meckel's diverticulum presents diagnostic challenges, particularly in adults.

Observation:

  • A case report details difficulties in diagnosing a bleeding Meckel's diverticulum.
  • The patient's scintigraphy results mimicked a bladder diverticulum, causing a diagnostic delay.
  • This highlights a potential pitfall in scintigraphic diagnosis.

Findings:

  • Standard scintigraphy can be inconclusive for Meckel's diverticulum in adults.
  • Misinterpretation as bladder diverticulum can occur, delaying appropriate management.
  • The study emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic accuracy.

Implications:

  • Bladder lavage during scintigraphy may enhance the differentiation between Meckel's diverticulum and bladder diverticulum.
  • Improved diagnostic techniques are crucial for timely intervention in cases of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum.
  • This finding could refine diagnostic protocols in nuclear medicine for gastrointestinal bleeding.

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