Technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy at three different times in active ulcerative colitis: comparison with colonoscopy and clinico-biochemical parameters in the assessment of disease extension and severity.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, our objective was to define the usefulness of technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO)-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy at three different time points in the assessment of disease extension and severity in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).


METHODS
Twenty-one consecutive patients (10 women, 11 men; mean age 42.4 +/- 12 years) with active UC were prospectively studied. All patients were diagnosed by colonoscopy and histopathology prior to inclusion. Scintigraphy was performed at 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h after Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte injection. Clinic-biochemical activity score, total colonoscopic activity score, and total scintigraphic activity score at 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h were calculated for each patient.


RESULTS
Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy were calculated as follows, respectively: 1 h imaging 86%, 73%, and 83%; 2 h imaging 89%, 74%, and 86%; 4 h imaging 90%, 58%, and 83% in the detection of active inflammatory segments. Even though no statistically significant difference was found between 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h imaging with respect to the sensitivity, specificity of labeled leukocyte scintigraphy, the largest area under the curve value was found for 2 h imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy has been found to be correlated well with colonoscopy in the assessment of both the extension and severity of UC. We recommend 2 h scintigraphic imaging because it provides the largest area under the curve value and decreases the number of false-positive results.
Aydin
Funda
F
Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey.
Dinçer
Dinç
D
Güngör
Firat
F
Boz
Adil
A
Akça
Serdar
S
Yildiz
Akin
A
Tosun
Ozgür
O
Karayalçin
Binnur
B
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime