ABSTRACT
In patients whose gastrointestinal bleedings does not stop spontaneously, intervention is required to determine the bleedings focus and to stop the hemorrhage. Gastrointestinal bleedings scintigraphy with Tc-99m labeled erythrocytes is a non-invasive imaging option for the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleedings. Positive scintigraphy is a harbinger of increased hospital morbidity and mortality, while negative scintigraphy correlates with good clinical outcome. Thus, scintigraphy helps in determining the treatment strategy and risk stratification. This article reviews indications for gastrointestinal bleeding scintigraphy, methods of radiolabeling of erythrocytes, image interpretation, use of single photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography to evaluate gastrointestinal bleeding, and Meckel diverticulum imaging.
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