title: Technetium-99m scan in the laparoscopic management of a misdiagnosed Meckel's diverticulum: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract and modern imaging techniques are available, its diagnosis remains problematic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A technetium-99 scan was performed in an 18-year-old man with abdominal pain, vomiting and rectal bleeding to confirm the presence of a Meckel's diverticulum which was not diagnosed laparoscopically elsewhere. The technetium-99 scan was positive and a diagnostic laparoscopy was re-performed which revealed a Meckel's diverticulum that was subsequently resected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that a technetium-99m scan should be performed before laparoscopy in children and adolescents with suspected Meckel's diverticulum. A positive technetium-99m scan may significantly contribute to the laparoscopic definitive diagnosis and treatment of a bleeding Meckel's diverticulum. However, diagnostic laparoscopy should only be performed by experienced surgeons.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitiakoudis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirmanidis
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardikis
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsalkidou
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos