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Biomedical subjects

F Scopinaro

Publications and source records attributed to F Scopinaro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Reliability of visual and quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the follow-up of patients who have undergone cholecystectomy and transduodenal sphincteroplasty.

A noninvasive scintigraphic technique to assess the efficacy of a surgical procedure (e.g., cholecystectomy and transduodenal sphincteroplasty) depends on the development of reliable and accurate qualitative or quantitative diagnostic criteria that allow early recognition of the occurrence and site of complications. For this purpose, the authors divided biliary flow into a four-step progression process and analyzed transit times from the peripheral vein to the gallbladder, common bile duct, and duodenum and the transit time from the common bile duct to the duodenum. These quantitative parameters were assessed in nine healthy volunteers and 31 asymptomatic patients who had previous cholecystectomy to validate their reliability. The results indicate that the four-step Tc-99m HIDA progression analysis provides a reliable, noninvasive evaluation of biliary flow, so that it can be applied to patients who have had cholecystectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Immunoscintigraphy of venous thrombi: clinical effectiveness of a new antifibrin D-dimer monoclonal antibody.

Safety and thrombus imaging capabilities of the 99mTc-labeled form of a new F(ab')2 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against fragment D dimers from cross-linked human fibrin, previously shown to be effective labeled to 131I in detecting venous thrombi in the rabbit, were investigated. Sixteen patients (seven men, mean age: 60+/-7 years) with deep (n = three) and superficial (n = 13) venous thromboses of the lower limbs documented at echo-Doppler study underwent, 24 hours before saphenous vein stripping, a scintigraphic study after IV injection of the 99mTc-MoAb (1,129+/-275 MBq/mL), acquiring dynamic images, as well as early and delayed static images of lower limbs. Tracer activity was compared in normal and pathologic areas. At the operation, vessel wall including the thrombotic lesion was isolated, weighed, and counted. Blood radioactivity and MoAb concentration were also measured. No adverse reaction was observed after MoAb administration. Thrombus site appeared as a focal area (hot spot) of asymmetrically increased tracer uptake, already detectable at early images in all patients. All thrombi detected at echo-Doppler study (n=25) were confirmed at scintigraphic study, which showed four additional hot spots subsequently confirmed to represent thrombi at operation. Average percent ratio between pathologic and normal regions was 1.51+/-1.34 (p < 0.05) at time-activity curves, 2.27+/-1.1 (p < 0.05) at early static images, and 2.15+/-1.2 (p < 0.05) at delayed images, respectively. Thrombus-to-blood uptake ratio was 4.3+/-0.9 (p < 0.01). The F(ab')2 MoAb proved to be safe, and low levels of antimouse antibodies were detected in response, although further studies are needed to assess tolerance and effectiveness in case of a second administration in the same patient. The 99mTc-labeled MoAb was very effective in identifying venous thromboses both at deep and superficial localizations, although its sensitivity and specificity need be evaluated in a more numerous group, including also patients with different and clinically more relevant localizations, such as caval thromboses. However, the possibility of obtaining high-quality images within 4 hours of MoAb administration is clinically relevant, and carries also therapeutic implications, especially in pulmonary thromboembolism.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Lupus carditis: evaluation with technetium-99m MIBI myocardial SPECT and heart rate variability.

The objective of this paper was to investigate the incidence of myocardial perfusion defects in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with dysautonomic alterations. Twenty patients without any sign or symptoms of heart disease, selected from a larger population of patients with SLE, underwent technetium-99m sestamibi (Tc-99m MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), at rest and after dipyridamole infusion; they also underwent heart rate variability (HRV) examination by a 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiography, analyzing in the time domain the standard deviation of the R-R intervals average (SDNN) and the percentage of R-R adjacent intervals differing from each other more than 50 msec (pNN50); in the frequency domain the low (LF) and high frequencies (HF) were analyzed. Twenty healthy volunteers served as control group for heart rate variability. At MIBI-SPECT examination, the scan was found abnormal in 15 patients and normal in five: three patients demonstrated reversible defects in the anteroseptal region, four had irreversible defects in a region (two in the anteroseptal region and two in the lateral region), two had rest defects in two different regions (lateral and inferior, lateral and anteroseptal) that improved during dipyridamole scan, and six had both reversible and irreversible defects: four in a single segment (three anteroseptal and one lateral, and two in two different regions, particularly anteroseptal and lateral, lateral and inferior). All 20 patients showed significantly lower HRV parameters in comparison with the control group, except for pNN50, which indicates decreased physiologic periodic fluctuations of the autonomic nervous system. In six patients who underwent coronary angiography, the epicardial vessels were found completely normal. In view of the high incidence of myocardial hypoperfusion in patients with HRV alterations, the authors hypothesize that autonomic dysfunction may be associated with microvascular disease or metabolic alteration. They also believe that MIBI scintigraphy is a suitable technique in detecting myocardial damage in SLE patients free of clinical manifestation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Single photon emission computed tomography procedure improves accuracy of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in gastro-entero pancreatic tumours.

In patients with gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours the localization of all the neoplastic lesions and an accurate staging of the diseases have important therapeutic implications. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with In-111 pentatreotide has proved to be useful in detecting gastro-enteropancreatic tumours; however, the role of abdominal single photon emission computed tomography has not yet been definitively established. In a series of 52 patients with gastro-enteropancreatic tumours (9 non-functioning islet cell carcinomas, 4 insulinomas, 3 somatostatinomas, 2 VIPomas, 1 glucagonoma and 33 carcinoids) we compared somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with the results of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging performed within one month. Four and 24-hour total body planar images and 4-hour abdominal single photon emission computed tomography were acquired after the i.v. injection of approximately 250 MBq of In-111 pentatreotide. Only abdominal localizations were considered: planar scans detected 16 extrahepatic lesions in 13 patients and 54 liver sites in 21 patients; single photon emission computed tomography visualized 31 extrahepatic lesions and 89 liver metastases in 27 and 28 patients, respectively; computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging detected 11 extrahepatic lesions in 10 patients and 73 liver sites in 21 patients. In-111 pentatreotide single photon emission computed tomography was the only imaging method able to localize tumoural lesions in 13 patients; all these localizations were then histologically verified. The scintigraphic positivity did not depend on the site or on the presence of hormonal hypersecretions. In conclusion, our results indicate that single photon emission computed tomography is more sensitive than planar images and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in detecting abdominal gastro-enteropancreatic tumours and their metastases; it is able to increase both the number of visualized lesions and that of patients with positive findings. Single photon emission computed tomography is particularly useful in patients in whom tumoural lesions have not been already localized; it should be the first imaging modality in patients with gastro-enteropancreatic tumours: its initial use will result in more information and proper management.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Quantification of breast cancer blood flow in absolute units using Gjedde-Rutland-Patlak analysis of 99mTc-MIBI uptake.

BACKGROUND: Scintimammography with 99mTc-MIBI has been proven as efficient technique of diagnosis of breast cancer. Nevertheless, quantification of breast carcinoma blood flow (BCBF) in absolute units is not yet developed. To compensate this, we analysed kinetics of 99mTc-MIBI uptake in breast cancer using Gjedde-Rutland-Patlak (GRP) approach. METHODS: If BC is radioactivity in breast cancer quantified by dynamic scintigraphy, C(h)-blood concentration of 99mTc-MIBI and K-transport constant, then, assuming 99mTc-MIBI uptake to breast carcinoma unidirectional for early minutes after injection and subjected to equation d(BC)/dt = K; C(h), classic GRP plot can be obtained from this by integration as BC/C(h)=K x (integral of C(h)(dt))/C(h) + V0 and placing [(integral of C(h)(dt))/C(h)] as X, and (A/Ch) as Y. The K can be then obtained as slope. K is breast cancer clearance equal to product (retention fraction); (blood flow) : K = E; BCBF. K can be calculated from A(t) and Ch(t) as asymptote of 99mTc-MIBI retention function h(t) = F-1[F[A(t)]/F[Ch(t)]], where F depicts Fourier transforms. The BCBF can be then obtained as ratio K/E. We employed the technique in 33 patients with breast carcinoma of stages T(1-3)N(0-3)M(0-1) injecting 99mTc-MIBI (370-510 MBq) as i.v. bolus. In 12 scintigraphy with 99mTc-MAA (370 MBq) injected via catheter intraaortically was performed as validation study. RESULTS: E values were essentially uniform over the population with overall mean 0.58 sd 0.06. Blood clearance curves did not differ between various stages also and were subjected to biexponential approximation. K was in all cases obtained from the slope of initial 3 min part of GRP plot, strongly linear (r > 0.95, p < 0.001) in all cases. 99mTc-MAA validation study revealed significant correlation with 99mTc-MIBI blood flow values (r = 0.94, p < 0.01). The BCBF(as ml/min/100 cm3) was in T1 12.85 sd. 4.76, in T2 15.87 sd. 1.78, in T3 17.35 sd. 2.45, and in T4 23.07 sd. 2.21, expressing tendency to increase with stage. Higher BCBF was significantly associated with metastatic spread and in patients with BCBF over 17 ml/min/100 cm3 distant mets were revealed in all cases. CONCLUSION: Hence, analysis of early kinetics of 99mTc-MIBI in breast carcinoma provides correct estimates of blood flow in the neoplasm and can be applied in clinical studies and for calculation of cytostatic delivery to BC.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Preoperative identification of viable myocardium: effectiveness of nitroglycerine-induced changes in myocardial Sestamibi uptake.

In order to predict tissue viability in infarcted myocardial areas, changes induced by nitroglycerine infusion on Sestamibi myocardial uptake were evaluated in 37 patients with previously confirmed myocardial infarction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and compared with echocardiographic and perfusional changes occurring after the operation. The improvement of Sestamibi uptake after nitroglycerine correctly classified 24/26 (92%) patients showing postoperative improvement of wall motion in the infarcted area, whereas 24/31 (77%) patients with nitroglycerine-induced increase in Sestamibi uptake had improved wall motion after operation. The presence of collateral flow to the infarcted area was associated with a significantly (P < 0.01) higher increase in Sestamibi uptake both during nitroglycerine infusion and postoperatively. An increase in wall motion score after operation was associated with a significantly higher (P < 0.05) increase in Sestamibi uptake score during nitroglycerine infusion. Thus, the results of this study suggest that Sestamibi perfusional myocardial scintigraphy during nitroglycerine infusion is capable of assessing viable but chronically hypoperfused myocardium and predicting postoperative wall motion and perfusional improvement, to yield the best results in patients with evidence of collateral circulation that supplies the infarcted area.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Role of 99mTc-Sestamibi scintimammography by SPEM camera in the management of breast cancer in the elderly.

The incidence of breast cancer in the elderly is 10 fold higher than in the population younger than 65 years. Moreover, in this segment of the population there are not defined clear practice guidelines regarding patient management. X-ray mammography, the most widely used diagnostic technique, is often inadequate to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. 99mTc Sestamibi scintimammography plays an important role as complement to mammography; in fact it is a very sensitive and specific method for breast cancer detection, when cancers > 1 cm diameter are considered. However, sensitivity values fall to 50-60% in the case of small tumors (T1a and T1b). In this study we present the results of a new Small Field Of View (SFOV) Gamma Camera with very high spatial resolution that allows the first Single Photon Emission Mammography (SPEM). Eighteen patients aged 71 +/- 6 years with mammographically detected breast lesions were submitted to a Prone Scinti Mammography (PSM) by conventional Gamma Camera and to a SPEM on craniocaudal view. A final diagnosis was reached by histopathology. SPEM correctly diagnosed 15 of 16 cancers, while PSM was not able to recognize 5 malignant lesions with subcentimeter size. Both the techniques provided normal findings in the case of benign lesions. The 99mTc Sestamibi scintimammography, particularly when performed by SPEM camera, is a sensitive, specific, and non invasive method to define the nature of radiologically described breast masses and would be very useful as a complement to X-ray mammography in screening programs for breast cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Functional and ultrastructural evidence of myocardial stunning after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: To study human myocardial ultrastructural changes after carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning inducing reversible cardiac failure. DESIGN CASE REPORT: clinical, functional and morphologic findings. SETTINGS: Public university-affiliated hospital and electron microscopy laboratory. PATIENT: A 25-yr-old woman with functional evidence of cardiac failure after acute CO poisoning. INTERVENTIONS: Hyperbaric and intensive care treatment over 10 days. Scintigraphic and cardiac angiography with endomyocardial biopsy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Scintigraphy with 99mTc hexakis 2-methoxy-2-isobutyl isonitrile (sestaMIBI) showed an uptake defect in the left anterior descending artery territory. The cardiac angiography demonstrated a slight hypokinesis of the superior two thirds of the anterior wall and of the septal region with completely normal coronary angiograms. Electron microscopy of left ventricular biopsies showed slight ultrastructural changes in the myocytes. In addition, large glycogen deposits were mostly associated with swollen mitochondria. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition on day 10. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of glycogen deposits associated with abnormal mitochondria may be signs of the incapability of myocardial cells in utilizing energy substrata. In the presence of normal myocardial perfusion, our findings are consistent with the presence of a stunned myocardium-like syndrome. Early recognition and treatment of this clinical syndrome allow the prevention of myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Noninvasive estimate of bile flux through the gallbladder in humans.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether a single noninvasive technique, ultrasonography, is able in vivo: 1) to evaluate the time-related patterns of gallbladder bile storage and emptying, and 2) to quantitate the amount of bile flux through the gallbladder (GB). METHODS: Healthy volunteers were submitted to the simultaneous assessment of gallbladder volume variations by frequent serial ultrasonographic (US) measurements and of hepatic bile flow through the GB by quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) during continuous i.v. infusion of 99 mTc-HIDA. An ad hoc mathematical analysis of US GB volume measurements was used to estimate the amount of bile flux through the GB. The QC-derived measurements of the flux of hepatic bile through the GB was used to substantiate the US-derived estimates. RESULTS: The curves expressing the time-related GB handling of hepatic bile obtained independently from US and QC measurements were statistically equivalent, and both techniques showed that the patterns and the amount of hepatic bile handled by the gallbladder after meal ingestion is remarkably different during three successive phases. After meals, hepatic bile was mainly 1) stored in the GB in the first phase; 2) emptied from the GB in a second phase; and 3) stored in the GB in the third phase. The ultrasonographic analysis estimated that 1) 23.8+/-12.5 ml (0.44+/-0.11 ml/min), 5.1+/-3.9 ml (0.15+/-0.10 ml/min), and 33.2+/-10.5 ml (0.53+/-0.16 ml/min) of hepatic bile entered into the GB during the three successive postprandial phases, and 2) the entire amount of bile flowing bidirectionally through the cystic duct, during the observation period (132.6+/-23.3 ml) was about five-fold greater than that estimated by the usually employed variables. CONCLUSION: The proposed mathematical analysis of frequent ultrasonographic measurements of the GB volumes enables one to estimate noninvasively the flux of bile through the gallbladder in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Use of the somatostatin analogue octreotide to localise and manage somatostatin-producing tumours.

BACKGROUND: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) and octreotide therapy have both changed the management of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumours, but very few data are available on the use of SRS and octreotide to visualise and treat somatostatinomas. METHOD: The results of SRS and octreotide treatment in three somatostatinoma patients were examined. RESULTS: SRS was able to detect extensive hepatic involvement in patient 1, one hepatic and one pancreatic lesion in patient 2, and one hepatic lesion in patient 3. Octreotide therapy (0.5 mg/day subcutaneously) was effective in decreasing plasma levels of somatostatin in all three patients. Symptoms (diabetes and diarrhoea) were greatly improved in the two patients with "somatostatinoma syndrome". CONCLUSION: The study shows that somatostatinoma, like most other gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumours, possesses functioning somatostatin receptors.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

99mTc SESTAMIBI scintigraphic evaluation of skeletal muscle disease in patients with systemic sclerosis: diagnostic reliability and comparison with cardiac function and perfusion.

The diagnosis of skeletal muscle involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is usually based on clinical, laboratory, electromyographic, and bioptic evidence of muscle disorder, whereas SSc cardiac disease is well established by nuclear medicine techniques (radionuclide ventriculography and myocardial scintigraphy). Previous reports have retrospectively hypothesized a possible relationship between cardiac and muscle involvement in scleroderma patients. In order to improve overall diagnostic accuracy in the qualitative/quantitative assessment of skeletal muscle involvement in these patients and to compare these results with those obtained at the cardiac level, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-99mTc radionuclide ventriculography and 99mTc SESTAMIBI myocardial and muscular scintigraphic examinations were performed in 10 SSc patients and in five healthy subjects. Muscular radioactivity, as assessed at thigh and calf levels by means of a segmental score, was significantly decreased in SSc patients in comparison with healthy subjects (global score value 15.6+/-2.2 vs 22.7+/-1.6, p<0.001), as well as right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF, 34.3%+/-5.3 vs 53.6%+/-4.2, p<0.001) and myocardial segmental perfusion (global score value, 19.6+/-2 vs 25.9+/-1.1, p<0.01). The results show a high frequency of skeletal muscle involvement in patients with SSc. Moreover, scleroderma patients with muscle disorders, as evidenced by scintigraphy, show a comparable occurrence of cardiac involvement, even in the absence of clinical signs of cardiac dysfunction.

Cardiomyopathies↗
PubMed1998

99mTc MIBI prone scintimammography in patients with suspicious breast cancer: relationship with mammography and tumor size.

99mTc MIBI prone scintimammography (PSM) is reported to be a specific examination in order to assess the nature of breast lesions. Fifty-three patients whose mammography was stratified according to the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS), the five category classification of mammography approved by the American college of radiology, were studied with prone scintimammography, with the aim of assessing the accuracy of this exam and its usefulness in clinical practice. Thirty-five out of forty-one patients with BI-RADS category V (high probability of cancer) showed cancer at histology. Thirty-one of them had positive PSM. Three out of the six patients with mammo-graphic features of category IV indicated malignancy. PSM was positive in all of them and negative in the three benign lesions. One of the five patients with category III mammography showed cancer and positive PSM. The PSM was negative in 12/13 patients with benign patology (specificity 92.3%). When the cancers were stratified for T-category significant differences were found between the sensitivity for tumors larger or smaller than 1 cm. The sensitivity was 50% for the cancers smaller than 1 cm and 96.9% for those larger than 1 cm. PSM is a very specific method to determine the nature of breast lesions. Its sensitivity is also high but has to be improved when tumors smaller than 1 cm have to be detected. From a clinical point of view PSM can at the moment be considered as an accurate method for the study of borderline lesions of IV and also of III BI-RADS category. In this case a positive PSM indicates an impact in clinical decision making.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1998

QT interval and QT dispersion in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

OBJECTIVES: To measure QT interval and QT dispersion, and to evaluate possible relationships between these measurements, heart rate variability parameters, and early myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care centre, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. SUBJECTS: Thirty-eight patients with SSc (35 females and three males, mean age 47 +/- 11 years), 19 patients with the diffuse form of disease and 19 with the limited form, and 17 healthy controls (11 females and six males, mean age 43 +/- 10 years) were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Both patients and control subjects underwent resting 12-lead electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Moreover, resting myocardial scintigraphy with 99 m Tc-sestamibi was performed in all SSc patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bazett's formula was used to obtain rate corrected value of QT interval (QTc). QT and QTc dispersion were defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QT or QTc interval, respectively. Twenty-four-hour heart rate variability was analysed both in the frequency and in the time domain. RESULTS: Twenty-three SSc patients (60.5%) had myocardial resting perfusion defects (group A) and 15 (39.5%) did not (group B). Maximum QTc interval, QT and QTc dispersion were significantly increased in SSc patients compared to the control subjects. No significant differences between group A and group B were observed for all QT measurements. Furthermore, maximum QTc interval, QT dispersion and QTc dispersion were significantly increased in group A patients compared to the control group. Total power, low-frequency, and high-frequency values were significantly lower in all SSc patients, whether in group A or group B, than in control subjects. On the other hand, low-frequency/high-frequency ratio was similar in all groups. Heart rate variability in time domain analysis showed no statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SSc have increased QTc interval, QT dispersion, and QTc dispersion. The role of autonomic nervous system and myocardial involvement on ventricular repolarization in patients with SSc needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial tomography based on dipyridamole echocardiography testing in hypertensive patients with chest pain.

The non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease in hypertensives with chest pain is an important clinical concern because all exercise-dependent tests display limited feasibility and diagnostic accuracy; by contrast, dipyridamole echocardiography testing has been shown to have a similar feasibility and accuracy in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of technetium-99m sestamibi tomography based on dipyridamole echocardiography testing in hypertensives with chest pain, and to compare the scintigraphic results with those of coronary angiography, exercise electrocardiography and dipyridamole echocardiography. Forty subjects with mild to moderate hypertension, chest pain and no previous myocardial infarction were submitted to 99mTc-sestamibi tomography (at rest and after high-dose dipyridamole echocardiography) and to exercise electrocardiography testing. At coronary angiography 22 patients (group A) had significant epicardial coronary artery disease (>/=70% stenosis of at least one major vessel) and 18 normal main coronary vessels (group B). Dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi imaging was positive in 21/22 patients of group A and in 5/18 of group B. Dipyridamole echocardiography was positive in 18/22 patients of group A and in 5/18 of group B. Exercise electrocardiography was positive in 15/22 patients of group A and in 11/18 of group B. Four out of five subjects in group B with positive results in all the tests showed a slow run-off of angiographic contrast medium, probably due to small-vessel disease. Significant epicardial coronary artery disease in hypertensives with chest pain is unlikely when dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi tomography is negative. When scintigraphy is positive, either epicardial coronary artery disease or a small-vessel disease condition is possible. The association of scintigraphy with dipyridamole echocardiography testing allows the assessment of contractile function and myocardial perfusion by a single pharmacological stress.

Chest Pain↗
PubMed1997

99mTc-HMPAO granulocyte scintigraphy in the early detection of postoperative asymptomatic recurrence in Crohn's disease.

The usefulness of 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy in the early detection of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease was evaluated in 17 patients undergoing ileocecal resection and prospectively followed up for one year. Scintigraphy was performed 6 and 12 months after surgery and recurrence assessed by colonoscopy within two weeks. As controls, four patients with ileocecal resection for cecal carcinoma were studied. To perform scintigraphy, autologous granulocytes were labeled with 99mTc-HMPAO, injected, and tau-camera images acquired after 30 min and 3 hr. Six months after surgery, 4/8 Crohn's disease patients showed endoscopic recurrence, and 30-min scintigraphy was positive only in these four patients (four true positives, four true negatives). At 12 months, endoscopic recurrence was detected in 10/14 Crohn's disease patients, and 30-min scintigraphy was positive in 9/14 patients (eight true positives, three true negatives, two false negatives, one false positive). Scintigraphy at 3 hr showed a lower specificity in detecting CD recurrence both at 6 and 12 months. The endoscopic and 30-min scintigraphic score were significantly correlated both at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.007; P = 0.04). Scintigraphy was negative in 4/4 controls at 30 min (four true negatives) and positive in 1/4 (one false positive) at 3 hr. We conclude that 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy at 30 min is a sensitive technique for the early detection of Crohn's disease recurrence in patients under regular follow-up after surgery.

Adult↗