Is scintigraphic double-track appearance a sign of severe acute episodes of ulcerative colitis?
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.
Morelec
Isabelle
I
Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite.
Nancey
Stéphane
S
Roman
Sabine
S
Rocca
Pierre
P
Potier
Pascal
P
François
Yves
Y
Pellet
Olivier
O
Vignal
Jacques
J
Bonmartin
Alain
A
Descos
Louis
L
Flourié
Bernard
B
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
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime