A gastrointestinal (Gl) bleeding scan was performed using the modified in vivo Tc-99m red cell labeling technique. Images were obtained at frequent intervals to localize the bleeding site on a 77-year-old patient with recurrent episodes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The patient had a left colon resection and anastomosis for diverticulitis 3 months before this study. During imaging, the bleeding site was detected in the lower descending colon. Retrograde flow was noted on the image (after a bowel movement) in the right colon but the pattern at this distal site was not related to an additional bleeding source at surgery. Surgical findings revealed the bleeding point at 5 cm above the previous anastomosis in the sigmoid colon.
展开▼
