Preoperative prediction of extent and severity of ischemic colitis by imaging with in-111 labeled leukocytes.

Ischemic colitis is a relatively common clinical entity. Conservative medical management is successful for most patients, but surgical intervention is required for patients with intractable disease. Noninvasive determination of the site and extent of the disease can be helpful in the preoperative decision on the surgical approach in these debilitated patients. However, current radiologic studies individually are inadequate in this respect. Based on the clinicopathologic correlation obtained after imaging with In-111 labeled leukocytes in a patient with ischemic colitis, the authors believe that this procedure may be useful; further studies in a larger patient population are warranted.