[Scintiscanning with technetium-99m pertechnetate in the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum]

Personal experience with technetium99m pertecnetate scanning in the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum is reported. The data reported indicate that the scan can be considered positive when the lower right quadrant of the abdomen shows a definite accumulation of radioactivity. Of 12 children examined, 4 responses were positive. These 4 patients were submitted to surgery and this confirmed the presence of Meckel's diverticulum containing gastric mucosa, and of an ulcer in the adjacent ileal mucosa. After discussing the clinical value of the investigation and having examined the problem of false positives and false negatives, in relation to reported data, it is concluded that scanning with technetium has a vital role to play in the diagnosis of haemorrhage due to Meckel's diverticulum.