Radiology, Vol 160, 635-639, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
Gastrointestinal tract radionuclide activity on In-111 labeled leukocyte imaging: clinical significance in patients with fever of unknown origin
FL Datz and DA Thorne
To determine the frequency and clinical significance of indium-111 labeled
leukocyte activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of patients with
fever of unknown origin, we reviewed 312 leukocyte studies involving 271
patients. Radionuclide activity was noted in the bowel in 59 cases. Of
these, only 27 were due to the infection or inflammatory disease that
caused the patient's fever. The 32 false- positive results were due
primarily to swallowed leukocytes or bleeding. In two cases, no explanation
was found for the activity in the GI tract. We conclude that bowel activity
on In-111 labeled leukocyte scans in patients with fever of unknown origin
often does not correlate with the true cause of the patient's fever.
