Radioguided surgery in Meckel's diverticulum

We analyze the case of a patient with intermittent episodes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and suspected Meckel's diverticulum, whose presence was confirmed by 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy. A previous exploratory laparotomy had been performed without finding the diverticulum. In spite of years of medical treatment, the patient presented a new episode of lower gastrointestinal bleeding with normal colonoscopy. A new 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy (including SPECT/CT) was performed and allowed the anatomical location of a Meckel's diverticulum and enabled its removal by laparoscopic radioguided surgery. The introduction of SPECT/CT in the scintigraphic diagnostic protocol in Meckel's diverticulum increases diagnostic safety and improves lesion location. Furthermore, it favors the performance of radioguided surgery and facilitates the lesion resection, particularly when the patient has suffered previous abdominal surgery, with a more conservative procedure, reducing the morbidity associated with the surgical procedure.