Table 5.
Studies on molecular imaging in paediatric patients included in the present review
| Ref. | Year | Pts (n) | Age (range) | Type of study | Clinical setting | Principal results | Technique | Segments evaluated (n) | Criterion for positivity |
| Papós et al[48] | 1996 | 20 | 4-18 | Prospective | IBD | sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of LS were 93%, 88% and 91%, respectively | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (30 min and 2 and 3 h) | Scored relative to the normal bone marrow uptake (0, no uptake; 1 < bone marrow uptake; 2 = bone marrow uptake; and 3 > bone marrow uptake) | |
| Charron et al[36] | 1998 | 178 | n.r. | Retrospective | Useful in distinguishing discontinuous from continuous colitis | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy + SPECT (0.5-1 h, 2-4 h) | |||
| Cucchiara et al[35] | 1999 | 48 | 2-17 | Prospective | suspected IBD | significant correlation between results of scintigraphy and endoscopy for the intensity of inflammation | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (dynamic + 30, 60, 120 and 180 min) | 9 | Abnormal if activity was seen in the gut within the first hour. 0 = no labeling; 1 = less than bone marrow; 2 = greater than bone marrow, less than liver; and 3 = greater than or equal to liver |
| Del Rosario et al[50] | 1999 | 35 | 2-20 | Retrospective | IBD | 83% sensitivity which prompted more aggressive management in 75% of cases | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (30 min + 2 h) | ||
| Charron et al[33] | 1999 | 184 | n.r. | Retrospective | Sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 97%, overall accuracy = 93% | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy + SPECT (0.5-1 h, 2-4 h ± 6 h ± 24 h) | |||
| Charron et al[37] | 2000 | 262 | n.r. | Retrospective | IBD | Useful as initial screening modality to exclude IBD | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy + SPECT (0.5-1 h, 2-4 h) | ||
| Alberini et al[32] | 2001 | 28 | 2-15 | Retrospective | Sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 92% for 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (1 + 3 h, p.i.) | |||
| Davison et al[38] | 2001 | 10 | n.r. | Prosepctive | CD | 99mTc-HMPAO leucocyte scintigraphy should not be depended upon as a screening test for Crohn’s disease | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy + (45 min + 3.5 h) | Abdominal isotope uptake equal to or greater than that associated with the bone marrow was considered to indicate significant inflammation | |
| Bruno et al[41] | 2002 | 66 | 4-19 | Prospective | Sensitivity of immunoscitigraphy was 94% for CD and 85% for UC with a relative low specificity | 99mTc-BW250/183 planar scintigraphy (4 + 24 h, p.i.) | |||
| Grahnquist et al[39] | 2003 | 95 | 2-16 | Prospective | Suspected IBD (screening test) | As a screening test for children with suspected IBD the calculated sensitivity was 75%, and the specificity was 82% | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (45 min + 3.5 h) | 6 | |
| Peacock et al[40] | 2004 | 64 | 2-19 | Retrospective | Suspected IBD | 99mTc-Stannous colloid LS had an 88% sensitivity, 90% specificity | 99mTc-stannous colloid WCS planar + SPECT (1 h, 3 h) | ||
| Chroustova et al[47] | 2009 | 40 | 5-18 | Monitoring IBD (17 = UC, 23 = CD) | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC provided good information about the current stage of disease in IBD monitoring | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy + SPECT (30-45 min, 2 h, 3 h) | Graded 1-3 according to the uptake intensity. Grade 1 = a barely detectable abnormal uptake, grade 3 = an abnormal uptake at least as intense as that in the bone marrow and grade 2 was between these extremes. The extent of the abnormal uptake was subjectively classified as A (restricted to a single small focus), C (diffuse, such as in pancolitis) or B (between these extremes) | ||
| Caobelli et al[34] | 2011 | 52 | 2-17 | Prospective | Sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 86%, and negative predictive value of 96% to diagnose IBD. During the follow-up, all relapses and remissions were correctly recognized | 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC planar scintigraphy (0.5 h, 3 h, p.i.) | Disease severity was graded by the focal uptake intensity vs iliac bone uptake (Scan Activity Index) and compared with Endoscopy Mayo Score |
SPECT: Single photon emission tomography; CD: Crohn’s disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; WBC: White blood cell; LS: Leukocyte scintigraphy; pts: Patients.