Objectives

To understand the indications and limitations of the key gastrointestinal (GI) related nuclear medicine investigations.

To understand the key pathologies that GI nuclear medicine investigations can detect

We will present multiple nuclear medicine case studies discussing their role in the diagnostic pathway.

Background

Nuclear medicine investigations of the GI tract can be overlooked in favour CT and MR imaging to solve a problem or reach a diagnosis. An understanding of the key GI related nuclear medicine investigation can allow a target approach to solving diagnostic conundrums or confirm the findings from cross sectional imaging.

Imaging findings OR Procedure findings

A range of cases where nuclear medicine investigations aided the diagnostic process.
Gastric emptying, small bowel and colonic transit studies
HIDA studies including for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and bile leak
Bile acid malabsorption studies
Meckels scan
Somatostatin receptor imaging
FDG PET-CT for a range of GI tract malignancies

Conclusion

GI Nuclear medicine studies can be underutilised for the diagnosis of GI pathologies. Knowledge of the indications and limitations can be a useful tool in the armoury of an abdominal radiologist.