The 'fading' Meckel's diverticulum. An unusual scintigraphic presentation.
The usual scintigraphic presentation of a Meckel's diverticulum is progressive accumulation of Tc-99m pertechnetate within the ectopic gastric mucosa that parallels uptake in the stomach. The authors present a case of an adult with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, negative endoscopic and radiologic evaluation, and atypical scintigraphy. An abnormal focus of uptake appeared at the same time as the stomach but faded away in the 15-minute image before reappearing while the stomach was still progressively accumulating the radioisotope. Meckel's diverticulum was confirmed by surgery. This case emphasizes the importance of scintigraphy in the evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding, and it further emphasizes that any uptake that cannot be physiologically related is suspicious, even in a young adult.
Delbeke
D
D
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2405.
Frexes-Steed
M
M
D000328:Adult; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m