Meckels Diverticulum

What is a Meckel’s Scan?

A Meckel’s scan looks for the presence of Meckel’s Diverticulum in the large intestine. A diverticulum is an out-pouching, or small pocket, in the wall of the large intestine.

This exam requires the use of a radiopharmaceutical through an IV catheter.

Prior to the exam:

Your child may not have anything to eat or drink for four hours prior to the test.

Your child should not receive barium or any other radiographic contrast agent 24 hours prior to the test.

We have a large variety of video entertainment to choose from, however, your child may also bring along his/her favorite DVD to watch during the exam.

Note: Parents/guardians will be allowed to accompany their child into the exam room.

When you arrive:

You must check in to Imaging Registration, on the first floor of the Benjamin Russell Building 45 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment in order to register.

Once the registration process is completed, a technologist will greet you and escort you to the nuclear medicine examination room. 

During the exam:

A technologist will place an IV in your child's arm, hand or foot in order to inject the radiopharmaceutical (tracer) needed for this exam. Your child will only feel a little discomfort, like a mild pinch. Once the child has proper IV access, the procedure can begin.

Your child will lie down on our exam table and the technologist will inject the tracer through the IV line. Imaging will then take place immediately. The camera will be above the table and will come close to, but will not touch your child. The scan will take approximately 60 minutes.

After the exam:

There are no special instructions for your child to follow upon completion of this procedure.

Test Results:

The images from your child's exam are interpreted by a pediatric radiologist and a report is sent to your physician's office.

If your physician has any questions regarding the report, he/she may call 205-638-9730.

Question or concern about your child’s exam?

205-638-9497