Scintigraphic detection of peptic lesions with the method of radiolabelled sucralfate

Abstract

Background. Sucralfate is an antiulcer agent that after peroral application strongly adheres to mucosal defects and in that way provides a protective barrier to further damage from acid and pepsin. If radiolabelled with a gamma isotope, it could be detected under a gamma camera pointing lesions to which it adhered. With the aim to confirm a suitable noninvasive method for investigation of caustic lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract we evaluated in a preliminary study the validity of the radiolabelled Sucralfate scintigraphy in detection of peptic disease.

Patients and methods. With that purpose, 35 patients after an endoscopic examination underwent scintigraphy with Tc-99m-DTPA sucralfate. Patients were divided in two groups: a group of 20 patients with endoscopic confirmed peptic disease and a control group of 15 persons who had not any disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Results. Using the test for clinical evaluation of a new method, the scan showed sensitivity of 75 %, specificity of 100 % and accuracy of 85.7 %.

Conclusions. Scintigraphy with Tc-99m-DTPA Sucralfate promoting it as an additional method, complementary to routine investigations in detecting mucosal lesions.