Have you asked your child to have a Meckel's Scan? (Meckel's Scan) Let's find out about this simply.

Has your doctor told you to do a Meckel's Scan because you've noticed blood in your baby's stool, or because your baby is constantly complaining of stomach pain? You might be a little scared when you hear the name. It's normal for questions like, 'What is this scan? Will it hurt my baby?' to come to mind. That's why today we'll talk about this Meckel's Scan in a very simple way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is a Meckel's Scan?

A Meckel's Scan is a specialized imaging test that primarily checks to see if your child has a condition called Meckel's diverticulum .

Now you're probably thinking, "What is this Meckel's diverticulum?"

Think about it, we have a small intestine inside our stomach, right? When some babies are born, they have an extra part of the small intestine that looks like a small pouch that protrudes from the wall. That's what we call a Meckel's diverticulum. Not everyone has this. And not everyone who has it will have symptoms.

This Meckel's Scan is a nuclear medicine test. Don't be scared by the name. Simply put, it involves injecting a very small amount of a harmless radioactive substance (radiotracer) into the body and using a special camera (gamma camera) to take pictures of the inside of the body.

When should this scan be done?

Some people with a Meckel's diverticulum may not have any symptoms throughout their lives, but for some, especially young children, it can cause problems.

The main symptoms are:

• Abdominal pain: Frequent stomach pain.
• Blood in stool: This is the most common symptom. Sometimes the stool can be dark red or dark black.

About 50% of those who show these symptoms are children under the age of 10. So if your child has these symptoms, your doctor may recommend this scan to find out for sure if it is a Meckel's diverticulum.

Do you do this scan for children as well as adults?

This is a very important question. The Meckel's scan is very successful in children . Research has found that it is about 90% accurate in children.

However, in adults, this accuracy drops to about 50% . Therefore, if an adult is suspected of having a Meckel's diverticulum, the doctor will usually refer them for other, more accurate tests.

Let's look at the table below to easily understand this difference.

How do you prepare your child for the scan?

As a parent, this part is very important for you. Preparing your child for this without any stress will make the test easier.

• Fasting: Do not give your child any food or drink for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. An empty stomach helps to get clearer images.
• Informing about other tests: If your child has had a test using barium (e.g., barium meal) within the past two days, be sure to tell your doctor.
• Talking to your child: Explain what is going to happen in simple words that your child can understand. Say things like, "We are going to take a picture of your belly with a big camera at the hospital," or "You need to stay still for a while."
• Telling your child that you are nearby: Tell your child that you are nearby. Sometimes you may not be able to go into the room where the scan is being performed. But letting your child know that you are nearby from outside can help reduce their fear.

What actually happens during the scan?

This process is not as complicated as you might think. The baby is usually awake at this time. However, if you feel that the baby is very restless and has difficulty staying in one place, tell the doctor in advance. You may be given a mild sedative to keep the baby calm.

Here's what happens during the scan, in order:

1. Inserting a cannula: First, a small tube, called an IV line, is inserted into a small vein in the child's arm, hand, or leg. This is where the special medicine (radiotracer) is administered.

2. Lying on the bed: The child is then laid on an examination table. A large gamma camera is then placed over the abdomen.

3. Giving the medicine: Now the medicine is injected into the body through the IV line. This will not cause any pain to the child.

4. Taking pictures: After the medicine has been injected, a radiologist will take a series of pictures. The entire process can take 30 to 60 minutes. It is very important that the child does not move during this time.

After the scan is complete, the child can go home the same day and can eat and drink normally.

Is there any risk to the baby from this scan?

This is probably the biggest question you have as a parent. The good news is that the risks of a Meckel's Scan are very minimal .

• There may be some pain, bruising, or slight bleeding where the cannula was inserted. This will resolve after a while.
• Don't worry about the radiation. The amount of radiation used is very small. To be precise, it's about the same amount of radiation you're exposed to during a chest X-ray.

What happens after the results are received?

The radiologist will usually provide the report to your child's doctor on the same day or within a few days of the scan.

There are two possible outcomes:

1. If the result is positive: If the scan shows that there is a Meckel's diverticulum, your doctor will probably recommend a minor surgery to remove it. Once this is removed, your child's symptoms will completely disappear.

2. If the result is negative: If the scan shows nothing, it means that the cause of the child's symptoms is something else. Then the doctor will recommend doing some more tests to find the cause.

However, your doctor will clearly explain the results and what to do next.

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