Scintigraphic head-to-head comparison between 99mTc-WBCs and 99mTc-LeukoScan in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study.
Scintigraphy with technetium-99m labelled white blood cells (WBCs) is routinely used in our hospital for the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main disadvantages of this diagnostic tool are its time-consuming nature and the handling of blood itself. 99mTc-LeukoScan is a relatively new, easily prepared agent that is used for the detection of osteomyelitis. To assess its value in IBD, a scintigraphic head-to-head comparison was performed between 99mTc-LeukoScan and 99mTc-WBCs. 99mTc-LeukoScan scintigraphy was performed in six patients with clinically active IBD and increased uptake on 99mTc-WBC images. The interval between the scintigraphic studies ranged from 2 to 7 days, and endoscopy was subsequently performed to confirm active IBD. In three out of six patients with increased uptake on the 99mTc-WBC scans, 99mTc-LeukoScan images showed very discreet activity in the bowel, but the sites did not correspond with the inflammation sites seen on 99mTc-WBC scintigraphy and found at endoscopy. In the other three patients, 99mTc-LeukoScan scintigraphy revealed a physiological distribution but no abnormalities. In conclusion, 99mTc-LeukoScan is not an alternative agent for the assessment of IBD. A prospective study is not justified owing to the false-negative results.
Stokkel
Marcel P M
MP
Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Netherlands. m.p.m.stokkel@lumc.nl
Reigman
HennaI E
HE
Pauwels
Ernest K J
EK
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013667:Technetium; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C101172:Sulesomab; D013667:Technetium