Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2013 Mar;16(1):41-48. 10.5223/pghn.2013.16.1.41.

Clinical Features of Symptomatic Meckel's Diverticulum in Children: Comparison of Scintigraphic and Non-scintigraphic Diagnosis

• Rho JH
• Kim JS
• Kim SY
• Kim SK
• Choi YM
• Kim SM
• Tchah H
• Jeon IS
• Son DW
• Ryoo E
• Cho KH
• Choi DY
• Kim YM

• KMID: 1428806
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2013.16.1.41

Abstract

PURPOSE
Meckel's diverticulum (MD) has various clinical manifestations, and diagnosis or selectection of proper diagnostic tools is not easy. This study was conducted in order to assess the clinical differences of MD diagnosed by scintigraphic and non-scintigraphic methods and to find the proper diagnostic tools.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review ofthe clinical, surgical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of 34 children with symptomatic MD, who were admitted to Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Inha University Hospital, and The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital between January 2000 and December 2012. The patients were evaluated according to scintigraphic (12 cases; group 1) and non-scintigraphic (22 cases; group 2) diagnosis.
RESULTS
The male to female ratio was 7.5 : 1. The most frequent chief complaint was lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in group 1 and nonspecific abdominal pain in group 2, respectively. The most frequent pre-operative diagnosis was MD in both groups. Red blood cell (RBC) index was significantly lower in group 1. MD was located at 7 cm to 85 cm from the ileocecal valve. Four patients in group 1 had ectopic gastric tissues causing lower GI bleeding. The most frequent treatment modality was diverticulectomy in group 1 and ileal resection in group 2, respectively.
CONCLUSION
To diagnose MD might be delayed unless proper diagnostic tools are considered. It is important to understand indications of scintigraphic and non-scintigraphic methods according to clinical and hematologic features of MD. Scintigraphy would be weighed in patients with anemia as well as GI symptoms.

Keyword

Meckel's diverticulum; Scintigraphy; Meckel's scan; Diagnosis; Child; Radionuclide imaging

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Anemia
Child
Erythrocytes
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Ileocecal Valve
Korea
Male
Meckel Diverticulum
Retrospective Studies

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