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(Radiology. 2001;219:86-90.)
© RSNA, 2001

Nuclear Medicine

Protein-losing Enteropathy: Diagnosis with 99mTc-labeled Human Serum Albumin Scintigraphy1

Nan-Tsing Chiu, MD, Bi-Fang Lee, MD, Shang-Jyh Hwang, MD, Jer-Ming Chang, MD, Gin-Chung Liu, MD and Hsin-Su Yu, MD

1 From the Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Rd, Tainan 704, Taiwan (N.T.C., B.F.L.); and the Departments of Internal Medicine (S.J.H., J.M.C.) and Radiology (G.C.L.) and the Institute of Medicine (H.S.Y.), Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Received March 1, 2000; revision requested April 9; final revision received August 11; accepted September 12. Address correspondence to B.F.L. (e-mail: ntchiu@mail.ncku.edu.tw).

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of technetium 99m–labeled human serum albumin (HSA) scintigraphy in a group of patients suspected of having protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: After intravenous injection of 740 MBq of freshly prepared 99mTc HSA, serial images of the abdomen were obtained from 10 minutes until 24 hours after injection. A 99mTc HSA scan was considered positive for PLE if there was visible tracer exudation in the gut. The diagnosis was established on the basis of standard clinical and biopsy findings.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine scans were obtained: 27 scans in 26 suspected cases of PLE and 12 scans in control subjects with no known gastrointestinal disease. Twenty-five of the 26 studies in patients suspected of having PLE showed 99mTc HSA activity in the bowel. Among the 25 studies with positive findings, seven demonstrated PLE only on images obtained 24 hours after injection. In the control subjects, no activity was seen in the bowel.

CONCLUSION: 99mTc HSA with serial scanning for up to 24 hours is reliable and useful for imaging PLE. Sites of protein loss may also be demonstrated. This imaging method is convenient, easy to perform, and yields results within 24 hours.

Index terms: Gastrointestinal tract, diseases, 70.60, 70.70 • Gastrointestinal tract, radionuclide studies, 70.1217 • Proteins, 70.60, 70.70 • Radionuclide imaging, 70.1217






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