The journal of Radiology has published a statement on the use of imaging for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, in hopes of offering a consensus on which techniques and modalities work best for patients. Based on a review of radiological exams, a panel of 24 authors emphasize the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of GI bleeding, which is a common reason for hospitalization in the United States. [1]
The statement stems from a lack of best practices for GI testing, coupled with a deficiency in understanding the benefits and drawbacks of these myriad imaging methods, wrote researchers from the American College of Gastroenterology and Society of Abdominal Radiology.
“Owing to widespread variation in the utilization of GI testing and a general lack of knowledge of advantages and limitations of each technique, we sought to derive a set of multidisciplinary consensus recommendations on the role of radiologic testing across the spectrum of GI bleeding,” the authors led by Neil Sengupta, MD, from the University of Chicago Medicine wrote.
Various radiologic techniques—such as CT angiography, catheter angiography, CT enterography, MR enterography, nuclear medicine red blood cell scan, and technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy (Meckel scan)—are frequently used alongside endoscopy to evaluate GI bleeding. However, the variability in the recommended utilization of these techniques leads to confusion among clinicians.
The authors aim is to offer proposed protocols for a variety of types of GI concerns, ranging from suspected small bowel perforations to upper GI bleeds and ulcers. The full statement outlines the data on which imaging modality works best based on the specifics of a patient’s case, and offers treatment strategies to produce the best outcomes.
The proposed consensus statement can be read in its entirety here.
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