Tc-99m dextran: a new and sensitive general purpose scintigraphic agent for diagnosing intestinal inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
This feasibility study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity of Tc-99m dextran with that of Tc-99m human immunoglobulin G to diagnose ulcerative colitis, and to explore its possible role in disease follow-up.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with active disease and six patients in remission underwent serial Tc-99m dextran scanning for as long as 3 hours or more after injection. Eight of the patients with active disease also underwent Tc-99m human immunoglobulin G imaging.


RESULTS
Twenty-four of 26 (92%) patients with active ulcerative colitis had a positive result of the Tc-99m dextran study, mainly within 1 hour. In comparison, Tc-99m human immunoglobulin G accumulated abnormally in four of eight (50%) patients and had a relatively poor target localization with high persisting background even after 6 hours. Four of the six patients in remission still had a positive result of the dextran scan, but the abnormal uptake was less than that in the patients with active disease. The disease has recurred already in one of these patients. A patient with pancolitis who was receiving steroid enema therapy had intense uptake of Tc-99m dextran in the ascending colon, probability because it was outside the range of the enema.


CONCLUSIONS
Tc-99m dextran is a sensitive and cost-effective agent to diagnose ulcerative colitis, and it may have a role in disease follow-up.
Lahoti
D
D
Department of Medicine, RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Bhatnagar
A
A
Singh
A K
AK
Sundaraiya
S
S
Sawroop
K
K
Singh
T
T
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003911:Dextrans; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013667:Technetium
D003911:Dextrans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C034146:technetium Tc 99m dextran; C065376:technetium Tc 99m immunoglobulin; D013667:Technetium