Use of technetium-tagged white blood cells in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: is differential diagnosis possible?

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that scans with technetium-tagged white blood cells (WBC-Tc99m) may be equal to endoscopy in the assessment of extent and activity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). OBJECTIVE: We have retrospectively examined the accuracy of WBC-Tc99m scans in differentiating continuous from discontinuous colitis in pediatric IBD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 207 children in the study (96 boys, 111 girls, median age 13 years). This included 29 controls - children with no gastrointestinal disease (NL) who underwent WBC-Tc99m scans for other medical problems. Scans were obtained at 30 minutes and 2-4 hours following injection. Scans were interpreted as showing continuous colitis, discontinuous colitis, or no colitis. RESULTS: In the 77 children with active Crohn's disease (CD) of the colon, the scans revealed discontinuous uptake in 63 children and continuous uptake in 14. In the 29 children with ulcerative colitis (UC), 23 scans showed continuous uptake and 6 revealed discontinuous uptake. Two of these 6 showed focal activity near the appendix, and subclinical appendicitis could not be excluded. Another child was bleeding and the scan could have been misinterpreted as showing small- bowel inflammation. In the last three patients, skip areas were clearly identifiable. In none of these last three patients were the biopsies typical of CD (i. e., no granuloma was identified) nor was inflammation patchy. In summary, of the 106 scans showing inflammation, 6 were classified into the wrong group. CONCLUSION: These data show that WBC-Tc99m scanning can be useful in distinguishing discontinuous from continuous colitis.

Comparison of the sensitivity of early versus delayed imaging with Tc-99m HMPAO WBC in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

The difference in sensitivity of early imaging at 30 minutes after injection of Tc-99m HMPAO WBC versus delayed imaging at 2 or 3 hours for depiction of active inflammation in children with inflammatory bowel disease was established. The charts of 220 children who had early (30-minute) and delayed (2 or 3 hours) imaging performed for evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease were reviewed. There were 107 boys and 113 girls (average age, 12 years; median, 13 years). The bowel was divided into eight segments (with the total for all patients being 3,520) graded on a scale of 0 to 6 (with reference points in the iliac crest and liver). Any grade > or = 1 was abnormal. The uptake in each segment was summed. One hundred and twenty-two studies were abnormal (55%). The average uptake in the early images was 5.1 +/- 0.41 and that in the late images was 9.3 +/- 0.64. The Friedman nonparametric test of comparison of rank was significant at the 0.001 level. One hundred and five patients had abnormal studies at 30 minutes (88%). An additional 12% of patients had abnormal studies only on the late images. There were 245 abnormal segments at 30 minutes and 413 abnormal segments at 2 or 3 hours. When the uptake was analyzed segment by segment, 62 patients (52%) had abnormal segments at 30 minutes but also had additional abnormal segments at 3 hours. Sensitivity of Tc-99m HMPAO WBC imaging was significantly improved when late imaging was performed.

Characterization of late abdominal accumulation of 99Tcm-HMPAO leukocytes in a large population of children.

We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of late accumulation of 99Tcm-HMPAO leukocytes (99Tcm-WBC) in the right lower quadrant of a large population of children and characterized some predictive patterns that would enable differentiation of active inflammation from this late occasional accumulation of 99Tcm-WBC. We reviewed the charts of 211 children. The first group evaluated consisted of 79 controls: 30 normal children with no gastrointestinal disease, but who underwent 99Tcm-WBC scanning for other medical problems, and 49 children who had non-specific gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, but had no demonstrable inflammatory bowel disease by conventional diagnostic methods. The second group consisted of 132 children with inflammatory bowel disease: 80 children with Crohn's disease (CD), 34 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 18 with indeterminate colitis (IC). Children were imaged at 30 min and 3 h. Fifteen (19%) of the 79 controls scanned showed accumulation of 99Tcm-WBC in the right lower quadrant at 3 h and none at 30 min. Of those 15, 8 were from the control population and 7 from the group with non-specific GI complaints and negative work-ups. There was no uptake in other segments of the bowel. The accumulation was faint, of lesser intensity than in the iliac wing, and diffuse, such that identification of a specific loop of involved bowel was not possible. Migration of the 99Tcm-WBC distal to the terminal ileum was demonstrated. The other 64 children in the control group showed no accumulation of 99Tcm-WBC at any time during their scans. All 79 scans were blindly interpreted as normal studies. There were no false-positive readings encountered in the 132 children with inflammatory bowel disease (80 CD, 34 UC, 18 IC) when the aforementioned characteristics of the late accumulation of 99Tcm were used to differentiate inflammation from this physiological excretion. In conclusion, the late accumulation of 99Tcm-WBC in the right lower quadrant is characterized by (1) accumulation at no less that 3 h, (2) no accumulation in other segments of the bowel, (3) faint accumulation of lesser intensity than in the iliac wing, (4) a diffuse accumulation pattern and (5) migration of the 99Tcm-WBC into the caecum and ascending colon over time. Recognition of this excretion pattern enables differentiation of active Crohn's disease of the small bowel from migration and accumulation of 99Tcm-WBC in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.

Common pediatric esophageal disorders.

Esophageal disorders in children can result in significant morbidity. The most common esophageal disorder seen in children is gastroesophageal reflux. Other common disorders affecting the esophagus include peptic esophageal strictures, esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula, caustic and foreign body ingestions, achalasia, and cricopharyngeal achalasia. We discuss what is currently known about these common pediatric esophageal disorders with regard to pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Endoscopies in pediatric small intestinal transplant recipients: five years experience.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal transplantation has become an option as a treatment for permanent intestinal failure. Endoscopy is an essential tool in assessing the intestinal allograft after intestinal transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze our experience using endoscopy in intestinal transplant recipients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of endoscopic and histological reports in 41 children who received an intestinal transplant between 1990 and 1995 at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. RESULTS: A total of 1273 endoscopies was performed of which 760 were ileoscopies via allograft ileostomy, 273 were upper endoscopies, and 240 were colonoscopies. One hundred four rejection episodes were documented histologically in 32 patients, 6 days to >4 yr after transplantation. Most episodes were mild and easily treated with increased immunosuppression; however, severe rejection with mucosal exfoliation was seen in nine patients. Rejection sometimes involved only part of the allograft. Endoscopic appearance alone without biopsies was sensitive enough to diagnose only 63% of the rejection episodes. Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus infections occurred in 11 and eight patients, respectively, and involved both native bowel and allograft in some. Complications of endoscopy were few: one perforation, three episodes of bleeding, and three episodes of transient respiratory compromise. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy is an essential tool in the postoperative assessment of intestinal transplant recipients. Frequent surveillance ileoscopies with biopsies should be performed after transplantation. If patients clinically deteriorate with fever, diarrhea, bacteremia, or gastrointestinal bleeding and a clear cause is not elucidated by ileoscopy, an upper endoscopy with biopsies is indicated.

Evaluation and management of gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary disease have become causally associated owing to reports of improved pulmonary function in patients with asthma or stridor following antireflux pharmacotherapy or surgery. Mechanisms by which reflux causes pulmonary disease include direct aspiration and neural reflex arcs. A novel additional mechanism for acute life-threatening episodes implicates increased beta-endorphin levels resulting from acid-mediated esophageal pain in the depression of respiratory drive. Diagnostic modalities used in the evaluation of reflux have often been inadequate to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between reflux and pulmonary disease. Recent studies using multiple site pH-metry have attempted to provide evidence for cause and effect but have achieved mixed results. Aggressive antireflux pharmacotherapy and, sometimes, surgery help those patients with chronic pulmonary disease mediated by gastroesophageal reflux.

Chronic pancreatitis in a patient with cystic fibrosis and clinical pancreatic insufficiency.

Pancreatitis occurs in up to 15% of patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic sufficiency, but the possibility of its occurrence in patients with pancreatic insufficiency has not been recognized. We describe a patient with homozygous delta F508 cystic fibrosis and typical symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency (greasy, fatty stools) in whom pancreatitis developed.