The benefit of scintigraphy with tagged autological red blood cells for assessment of the site of bleeding in the small bowel
Abstract
Gastrointestinal endoscopy is the method of choice for detection and treatment of bleeding from the upper tract and large bowel. Scintigraphy with tagged RBCs is a non-invasive diagnostic modality for assessment of the source of bleeding in the small bowel.
Scintigraphy with tagged RBCs is only complementary to push-enteroscopy or intra-operative enteroscopy. A retrospective study of 34 patients (15 men, 19 women, aged 12 - 91, mean 54 years) was accomplished.
They had gastrointestinal bleeding (obscure-overt bleeding) and underwent scintigraphy with in vivo tagged autological RBCs by means of technetium 99m in the last 6 years. All our patients had negative endoscopy of the upper tract and large bowel.
Enteroclysis and X-ray angiography were negative, too. Conclusion.
Improved management of disease and acceleration of detection of the source of small bowel bleeding was enabled by using scintigraphy with in vivo tagged autological red blood cells by means of 99mTc.