[Localization diagnosis and differential diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal abscesses using 99m...

Occult intraperitoneal abscesses are difficult to locate and dispose of. Therefore, a method of examination is needed that is specific, can be used at any time, is not expensive, and yields early results within 2-3 h. This seems possible with a new methods of examination. 99mTc-Sn colloid was used to label autologous polymorphonuclear leukocytes which, when reinjected, emigrate to the site of the suspected abscess. Standard scintigraphy localizes the labeled inflammatory cells. In 32 surgical patients, 34 scans were performed with good results (controlled by greyscale ultrasound); 17 (53.1%) scans represented intraperitoneal abscesses; 3 (9.4%) scans demonstrated true positive extra-abdominal inflammations.