Asghar H Asghar, Ayub Khan, Amjad Aziz Khan, Abdul Manan Khan, Saeed Shah, Saddique Bacha.
Role of Tc-99m labeled RBC scan in evaluation of gastrointestinal bleed.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(6):335-7.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of Tc-99m RBC scan in detection of gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. Design: This is a prospective study. Place and Duration of study: it was conducted at the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar from March 2000 to August 2001. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with an average age of 26±17 years (22 males and 6 females) were included in this study. All subjects were divided into two groups. Group-1 (n=16) was having history of GI bleed while group-2 (n=12) was not having any such history. All underwent Tc-99m RBC scan and acquisition was done under large field of view gamma camera for 1-3 hours. Results: Out of 16 (group-1), 14 (87%) showed focus of bleed on scan while two (13%) were having false negative scan. Findings were confirmed either on laparotomy (n=4) or by contrast angiography (n= 12). In group-2 (n=12), 11 (92%) were having true negative scan while 1 (8%) was having false positive scan. Negative scan patients were followed for next 3 months to see any episode of bleed. Sensitivity of test came out to be 87%, while specificity 92%. Conclusion: Tc-99m RBC scan is a highly sensitive and specific test in the detection of active GI bleed. However, it needs further evaluation regarding the site of bleed.

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