Luljeta Abdullahu¹*, Fakir Spahiu¹*, Basri Lenjani², Ismet Bajrami³, Vjollca Dedushaj Fazliu⁴ and Fitore Murati⁵

¹Clinical Service of Nuclear Medicine, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, Republic of Kosovo
²Emergency Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, Republic of Kosovo
³Clinical of Pediatric, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, Republic of Kosovo
⁴Internal Medicine-Endocrinologist Private Praxis "Vital Health Group" Agim Ramadani n.n., Republic of Kosovo
⁵Department of Physiotherapeutic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Republic of Kosovo

*Corresponding Author: Luljeta Abdullahu and Fakir Spahiu, Clinical Service of Nuclear Medicine, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, Republic of Kosovo.

Received: December 12, 2024; Published: January 21, 2025

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the role of technetium-99 (99m-Tc) scintigraphy of the gastrointestinal tract in the diagnosis or detection of ectopic mucosa of Meckel's diverticulum, particularly involving the mid and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and of 99mTc-RBC labeling of red blood cells in determining the status of active or intermittent-passive bleeding.

Methodology: The detection and localization of symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is based on the accumulation of technetium-99m pertechnetate (99mTc) in the gastric mucosa, which is transported in a manner similar to that of halide anions. Scanning with technetium-99m-labeled red blood cells (99mTc-RBC) shows an abnormal focus of increased activity that increases in intensity over time.

The analyses also included selected cases where pharmacological interventions such as premedication with proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole were used in children to increase diagnostic specificity.

Results: A retrospective analysis was performed on 42 referred cases, involving children aged 6.5 months to 4 years. Of these, 32 children (76.19%) presented with passive bleeding, while 10 children (23.80%) presented with active bleeding.

In the group of 32 children with passive bleeding, 7 children (21.87%) resulted with ectopic mucosa. Four children had been previously treated with proton pump inhibitors, of which three were identified as having the presence of ectopic mucosa.

Of the 10 children with active bleeding, who were evaluated with pyrophosphate, active bleeding was confirmed in 6 of them. In four cases, this was related to the use of Ibuprofen, while in two children small bowel bleeding was detected.

Discussion: The 99mTc-pertechnetate method alone offers high sensitivity for detecting the location of inactive bleeding from the ectopic mucosa of Meckel's diverticulum, when combined with proton pump inhibitors significantly increases the specificity of the diagnosis, while the method with in vivo pyrophosphate-labeled erythrocytes offers accuracy for active bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

 Keywords: Scintigraphy of Gastrointestinal Bleeding; Meckel's Diverticulum; 99mTc-Pertechnetate; 99mTc ER; Labeled with Pyrophosphate

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Citation

Citation: Luljeta Abdullahu and Fakir Spahiu., et al. “Early Detection of Meckel's Diverticulum and Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Pediatric Patients Using Radionuclide Scintigraphy”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 9.2 (2025): 86-89.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Luljeta Abdullahu and Fakir Spahiu., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.