THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOW-GRADE RIGHT ILIAC FOSSA UPTAKE ON TC-99(M)-HMPAO LABELED WHITE CELL SCANS

Technetium-99m HMPAO labelled white cell scanning is now an accepted m ethod for assessing the activity of inflammatory bowel disease. Howeve r, false positive results have been demonstrated. This study was condu cted to assess the significance of low grade uptake on Tc-99(m)-HMPAO labelled white cell scans in the right iliac fossa (RIF) in the contex t of possible inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 32 patients over a per iod of 1 year had low grade RIF uptake as the predominant abnormality, 20 of these had no prior diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Onl y one case in this group was subsequently diagnosed as having Crohn's disease. Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLHP) and non-steroidal anti-in flammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were also associated with low grade RIF upta ke. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.