Radionuclide imaging of Meckel's diverticulum: cimetidine versus pentagastrin plus glucagon

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prior administration of cimetidine in radionuclide imaging of Meckel's diverticulum. In three groups of seven rats with artificial Meckel's diverticulum, containing ectopic gastric mucosa, the effects of pentagastrin + glucagon plus 99mTc-pertechnetate, as well as cimetidine premedication plus 99mTc-pertechnetate, and 99mTc-pertechnetate alone were compared to attain improved radionuclide imaging of Meckel's diverticulum. This experimental model suggests that the use of cimetidine seemed to have some advantages: (a) nontarget (intestinal) radioactivity was diminished by cimetidine, (b) the target to nontarget (Meckel's diverticulum to intestinal activity) ratio increased with cimetidine pretreatment. This resulted in an enhanced accumulation of pertechnetate in the ectopic gastric mucosa, and reduced excretion of the radionuclide into the lumen. Consequently, better scintiphotograms and a low rate of false results added to the validity of this method.