The labeled-leukocyte scan in the study of abdominal abscesses.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present paper was to review the literature over the last 30 years to assess the value of radionuclide imaging, particularly labeled leukocyte scan, as compared to other imaging modalities in the management of abdominal abscesses.


METHODS
A systematic review of the published studies in humans cited in PubMed written in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish was made.


RESULTS
Ultrasound (US) has lower sensitivity than leukocyte scan (LS), particularly in patients without localizing signs, while CT has higher sensitivity than US, but less than LS. On the other hand, CT had higher specificity than both LS and US.


CONCLUSIONS
LS is the more sensitive method to localize abdominal abscesses and may guide dedicated US and CT investigations to improve their diagnostic potential. Further diagnostic evolution is expected from the routine use of hybrid SPECT/CT systems.
Liberatore
Mauro
M
Service of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiological Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Calandri
Enrico
E
Ciccariello
Gabriele
G
Fioravanti
Marzia
M
Megna
Valentina
V
Rampin
Lucia
L
Marzola
Maria Cristina
MC
Zerizer
Imene
I
Al-Nahhas
Adil
A
Rubello
Domenico
D
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods