title: Mesenteric lymphadenitis depicted by indium 111-labeled white blood cell imaging.
abstract: An acutely ill child with abdominal pain and concomitant pharyngitis often presents a diagnostic challenge. This report describes how indium 111-labeled white blood cell imaging helped to clarify the confusing case of a 4-year-old boy with fever, pharyngitis, and abdominal pain. The triad of abnormal white cell localization in the nasopharynx, cervical lymph nodes, and right lower abdominal quadrant supported the diagnosis of a systemic infection rather than appendicitis, abscess, or another surgical condition. Mesenteric lymphadenitis associated with systemic infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in a child with this clinical presentation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Achong
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008640:Mesenteric Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D007205:Indium Radioisotopes