Gallbladder Activity on 99mTc-Labeled Red Cell Scintigraphy Confirmed by SPECT/CT Imaging

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell (Tc-RBC) scintigraphy is a standard diagnostic tool for detecting gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Visualization of the gallbladder is an uncommon finding during Tc-RBC scintigraphy.

Observation:

• A patient with chronic renal failure and anemia presented with an unusual finding on Tc-RBC scintigraphy.
• The gallbladder was clearly visualized during the scintigraphy procedure.

Findings:

• Gallbladder visualization on Tc-RBC scintigraphy was confirmed using SPECT/CT imaging.
• This finding is atypical for standard Tc-RBC scintigraphy protocols.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare but possible presentation of gallbladder visualization during Tc-RBC scintigraphy.
• Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for accurate interpretation of nuclear medicine scans, especially in patients with comorbidities like chronic renal failure.