GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

• Ascites (ref)
• Artefact
  • Free Tc-99m pertechnetate (ref)
  • Urinary contamination (ref)
• Gastric carcioma
• GI bleeding (ref)
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyperparathyroidism (ref)
• Intestinal infarction
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Ileal conduit (ref)
• Urinary diversion (ref)
• Vesicoenteric fistula (ref)

The most common cause of visualization of the stomach on a bone scintigram is poor labeling with resultant free pertechnetate concentrating in the stomach. Hypercalcemia with metastatic calcifications is the second most common cause of visualization of the stomach. Small or large bowel visualization is seen with urinary diversion, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bowel infarction.

Artifacts.

Total body bone scan obtained 4 hours after the injection of the radiotracer shows free pertechnetate in the stomach, thyroid, and salivary glands. Technetium-99m colloid accumulation in the liver is also present.

Hyperparathyroidism

Whole-body bone scintigram shows increased uptake in the stomach and lungs in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Neuroblastoma

This whole-body bone scintigram demonstrates increased radionuclide uptake in the left upper abdomen due to large neuroblastoma.

Ascites

Whole-body bone scintigram shows diffuse increased radiotracer uptake over the protuberant abdomen in a patient with peritonitis.

Urinary Diversion

Bone scintigram (anterior view) in a patient with ureterosigmoidostomy shows radionuclide activity in the colon.

Ileal Conduit

(A) Bone scintigram (anterior view) shows absence of the bladder and a collection of activity projecting over the right hemipelvis, a finding that corresponds to an ileal conduit seen on lateral view (B) and on retrograde pyelography (C).

Urine contamination

Multiple hot spots are present on the anterior image (A) of a bone scan. After removal of contaminated clothes, all hot spots disappeared (B).