title: Is scintigraphic double-track appearance a sign of severe acute episodes of ulcerative colitis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In comparison to endoscopy, clinical and biological criteria are less predictive of severity in attacks of ulcerative colitis (UC). Our aim was to assess the value of the double-track scintigraphic appearance in the assessment of the severity of acute UC by comparing it to endoscopic criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records of 52 patients hospitalized for an acute attack of UC, who had undergone within 48 hours of presentation both a technetium 99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) granulocyte scintigraphy and endoscopic examination (colonoscopy: n=20; rectosigmoidoscopy: n=32).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Taking into account the colonic segments examined together with both methods in the same patient or results obtained with colonoscopies, there was an excellent agreement between the double-track scintigraphic appearance and endoscopic criteria of severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with previously diagnosed UC, 99mTc-HMPAO granulocyte scintigraphy when available may replace endoscopic examination to assess the severity of attacks.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morelec
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nancey
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Potier
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pellet
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignal
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonmartin
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Descos
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flourié
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime