Detection of inflammatory bowel disease with 99mTc DTPA

The possible scintigraphic detection of active inflammation of the bowel was studied after injection of Tc diethylene triamine pentacetic acid (DTPA). The study included 5 cases of proven active colitis ulcerosa or Crohn's disease and 6 volunteers without any gastrointestinal complaints. No significant differences in the images of both groups could be demonstrated. In both groups some accumulation of radioactivity in the intestines was found, but it was impossible to distinguish any anatomical entity. The sensitivity of Tc DTPA scanning seems to be insufficient to differentiate between a reactivation and a chronic inflammatory process.