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Red blood cell scintigraphy in children with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding
Author(s) -
Lee Jung,
Lai MingWei,
Chen ChienChang,
Chen ShihYen,
Chao HsunChin,
Chan ShengChieh,
Kong ManShan
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2008.02552.x
Subject(s) - medicine , scintigraphy , laparotomy , technetium , gastrointestinal bleeding , radiology , angiography , technetium 99m , nuclear medicine , surgery
Background: The main topic of the current review is the usefulness of technetium‐99m‐labeled red blood cell scintigraphy ( 99m Tc RBC scan) in children with acute massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients who experienced massive GI bleeding and who underwent 99m Tc RBC scanning between November 1991 and December 2004 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Results: The study included 22 patients who underwent 23 99m Tc RBC scans. The scans were usually performed after other diagnostic tests failed to locate the bleeding. The diagnostic sensitivity of the scans was nine out of 23 (39.1%). The test demonstrated a positive scan within the first 2 h in six patients, and three patients had positive results at 24 h. The locations of the lesions identified on scanning and surgical investigation were highly correlated in patients with a positive scan within 2 h. Conclusions: The 99m Tc RBC scan is a sensitive, albeit non‐specific, method for detecting GI bleeding. The location of a lesion as indicated by a positive scan within 2 h is helpful for guiding surgical intervention and angiography, although a definitive diagnosis should be made with other methods, particularly laparotomy.