Meckel's diverticulum findings on Tc-99m red blood cell scintigraphy in a bleeding leukemic patient confirmed by Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy

Clin Nucl Med. 2007 Aug;32(8):668-70. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3180a1abff.

Abstract

A 25-year-old Caucasian woman with a medical history of acute promyelocytic leukemia presented to the emergency department with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. A bone marrow biopsy excluded hemorrhagic leukemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, emergency abdominal angiography, abdominal CT scan, and wireless capsule endoscopy were performed but no source of bleeding could be detected. Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy was consistent with a small bowel bleeding focus. The persistent and focal images in the right abdomen were suggestive of Tc-99m RBC trapping in the lumen of a Meckel diverticulum (MD). In accordance with this suspicion, successive Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy was performed after 3 days, consistent with the diagnostic hypothesis. Due to the persisting severe bleeding (with a drop in baseline hemoglobin from 10.4 to 7.1 g/dL), despite 8 units of blood transfusion, emergency surgery was performed. Through a minilaparotomy a segmental small bowel resection, including Meckel diverticulum, was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Erythrocytes / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meckel Diverticulum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m*
  • Technetium*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m