What is an important patient preparation step for Meckel's diverticulum localization?

Fasting for at least 2 hours before imaging is crucial when localizing Meckel's diverticulum. This preparation step helps reduce the presence of food in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can interfere with the visualization of the diverticulum. A clear stomach and intestines allow for better imaging results and clearer identification of any pathological regions, including the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa that might be associated with Meckel's diverticulum.

This fasting period optimizes the performance of the imaging agents, such as technetium-99m pertechnetate, which is typically used in nuclear medicine scans for this purpose. The radiotracer is preferentially taken up by gastric mucosa, so the absence of food can enhance the uptake and focal appearance of the diverticulum on the scan, thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy.