A 4-year-old boy presents with painless rectal bleeding. A Meckel diverticulum is suspected. Which imaging modality has the highest sensitivity for detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in a Meckel diverticulum?
- A Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy (Meckel scan) ✓
- B CT enterography
- C Capsule endoscopy
- D Double-balloon enteroscopy
Correct answer: A. Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy (Meckel scan)
Explanation
Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy is the investigation of choice for detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in Meckel diverticulum. The radiotracer is taken up by gastric mucin-secreting cells, with a sensitivity of about 85% in children. False negatives can occur if the diverticulum lacks gastric mucosa. CT and capsule endoscopy can detect the structural abnormality but not the ectopic mucosa specifically.
Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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