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False-positive early indium-111 leukocyte scan.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|May 1, 1987
Summary
An In-111 leukocyte scan helped diagnose an abdominal abscess in a cirrhotic patient with ascites. The scan showed localized uptake, but further imaging ruled out a purulent collection.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine imaging
- Diagnostic radiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Cirrhosis frequently leads to complications like ascites.
- Ascitic fluid infection necessitates ruling out abdominal abscess.
- Indium-111 (In-111) labeled leukocyte scintigraphy is a key diagnostic tool.
Observation:
- A patient with cirrhotic ascites underwent In-111 leukocyte scintigraphy.
- Localized radiotracer uptake was noted between the liver and right lung within 30 minutes.
- The 24-hour scan demonstrated no persistent or indicative uptake.
Findings:
- The In-111 leukocyte scan showed transient, localized uptake.
- No definitive evidence of an abdominal abscess was found.
- The absence of a purulent collection was confirmed.
Implications:
- Leukocyte scintigraphy can provide early clues but requires careful interpretation in complex cases.
- Negative serial imaging is crucial for ruling out abscess.
- This case highlights the importance of correlating imaging findings with clinical presentation in cirrhotic patients.