What is a Meckel’s diverticulum/heterotopic gastric mucosa scan?
In 2% of the population a protrusion or growth of stomach tissue grows outside of the stomach that also secretes stomach acid and can lead to severe rectal bleeding if not corrected. The majority of these are picked up within the first two years of life. These diverticula need to be excised.
A special radioactive-isotope called Tc-99m that naturally accumulates in stomach cells also accumulates in the cells of this protrusion or any other place where there is abnormal “stomach- like” tissue. This isotope emits special rays called gamma rays that can be imaged using a special machine called a gamma camera. By taking sequential images after injecting the isotope we are able to tell the surgeon exactly where to go and look for the offending diverticulum.
What can I expect to happen next?
You are required to fast for 4-6 hours before imaging.
Some medicine may be given to you beforehand to increase the probability of detecting the diverticulum for two days prior to the study.
At injection (on the imaging bed) you will immediately be imaged first for blood flow and then be images every 5 minutes up until 30 minutes.
At 60 minutes a series of separate images will be acquired from differing angles to better allow for visualization.
If a suspicious focus of tracer accumulation is noted, a three-dimensional acquisition may be taken where the camera detectors rotate around your body at the level of the suspicious focus. A concomitant CT scan may be taken and superimposed on the Nuclear Medicine data to better allow for localization of the offending diverticulum.
