TC-99M LABELED MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST GRANULOCYTES (BW-250 183) IN THE DETECTION OF APPENDICITIS/

Scintigraphy with Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibodies (BW 250/18 3 MoABs) was performed in 32 patients with suspected appendicitis. Abd ominal imaging (planar/SPECT) was performed 2 hours after injection of the tracer. All patients also had surgery and a histologic examinatio n of the resected tissue. Of the patients, 17 suffered from ''acute ap pendicitis'' and 12 had right positive scans (sensitivity = 70.6%). In 15 patients, acute appendicitis could have been ruled out, and in 11 of these cases the scan was true negative (specificity = 73.3%). The o verall accuracy was 71.8% (23/32 cases). The use of Tc-99m antigranulo cyte MoABs may overcome the problems associated with the Tc-99m HMPAO granulocyte and In-111 oxine approaches, which include nonspecific int estinal activity or the lack of timeliness. The use of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibodies is suitable as an emergency procedure and m ay play a role in the management of patients with suspected appendicit is.