Abdominal scintigraphy for diagnosis of intestinal bleeding

Abdominal scintigraphy with99mTc-pertechnetate, using a gamma-camera linked to a data processor, was done in 8 patients with acute massive intestinal hemorrhage and in 34 patients with chronic recurrent intestinal hemorrhage. Endoscopy and x-ray studies had failed in all patients to reveal a bleeding source. All but 3 patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, confirming the abnormal findings of scintigraphy. In all acutely bleeding patients, scintigraphy was positive. The bleeding was proven by laparotomy to be due to Meckel's diverticulum with gastric mucosa in 5, jejunal neurinoma in 1, and sigmoid colon carcinoma in 1 patient. Scintigraphy was positive in only 3 chronically bleeding pat…