Use of ^99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy in the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation: Comparison of findings at colonoscopy and biopsy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential use of technetium 99m (^99mTc) (V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy in the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 62 patients who were suspected of having intestinal inflammation and 30 control subjects were enrolled. All patients underwent ^99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy and colonoscopy with biopsy within 1 week. ^99mTc (V) DMSA scintigrams were interpreted blindly with respect to clinical information, and radiotracer uptake in the bowel segments was graded. The findings were then compared with the results of the colonoscopy and colonoscopic biopsy. RESULTS: In the detection of intestinal inflammation, findings at ^99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy were as follows: true-positive in 55, false-positive in two, true-negative in 32, and false-negative in three. Overall sensitivity was 95%; overall specificity, 94%; and overall accuracy, 95%. CONCLUSION: Our results show that ^99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy is a useful noninvasive diagnostic test for the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation.