title: The utility of Tc-99m dextran in the diagnosis and identification of melanoma metastases responsible for protein-losing enteropathy.
abstract: Protein-losing enteropathy is an uncommon syndrome of excessive loss of protein via the gastrointestinal mucosa. Tc-99m dextran is a tracer ideally suited for diagnosis and localization. The authors report a case of melanoma mestastases to the small bowel that were causing protein-losing enteropathy. These were diagnosed and localized using Tc-99m dextran, leading to a curative resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, c/o Post Office, Grattan Street, Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia. DOCDIN@bigpond.com.au
authors.forename: Dinesh A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sivaratnam
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pitman
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003911:Dextrans; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C034146:technetium Tc 99m dextran