HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, C.-H. Articles by Cheng, Y.-F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, C.-H. Articles by Cheng, Y.-F.

The Significance of Functioning Gallbladder Visualization on Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy in Infants with Persistent Jaundice

Departments of Nuclear Medicine, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, and Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Chiang-Hsuan Lee, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta Pei Rd., Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, Republic of China.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gallbladder visualization can help exclude biliary atresia in hepatobiliary scintigraphic studies of infants with persistent jaundice. Methods: One hundred fifty-two infants with persistent jaundice (49 patients with a final diagnosis of biliary atresia and 103 with biliary patency) were studied using both hepatobiliary scintigraphy and abdominal sonography. Food was withheld for 4 h before the examination, and the infants were fed nothing but glucose until 6 h after the initial injection of ^99mTc-disofenin or until the gallbladder was seen. If the gallbladder was seen, the infants were fed milk, and imaging was continued to observe gallbladder contractility. Results: In none of the 49 patients with biliary atresia could the gallbladder be seen with hepatobiliary scintigraphy, but abdominal sonography revealed 9 normal-sized gallbladders. Of the 103 patients with biliary patency, hepatobiliary scintigraphy detected the gallbladder more frequently (74%, 76/103) than did abdominal sonography (63%, 65/103). All visualized gallbladders contracted after the infants were fed milk. If we include visualization of both the gallbladder and bowel radioactivity as criteria, the specificity of biliary atresia on hepatobiliary scintigraphy increases to 86% (89/103). Conclusion: Gallbladders were usually visible on hepatobiliary scintigraphy of fasting patients with biliary patency. A functioning gallbladder, with or without visualization of bowel radioactivity, indicated biliary patency.

Key Words: biliary atresia • biliary patency • hepatobiliary scintigraphy • abdominal sonography

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. S. Kim, J.-E. Cheon, B. J. Youn, S.-Y. Yoo, W. Y. Kim, I.-O. Kim, K. M. Yeon, J. K. Seo, and K.-W. Park Hepatic Arterial Diameter Measured with US: Adjunct for US Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia Radiology, November 1, 2007; 245(2): 549 - 555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. D. Bisgard Visual Diagnosis: A 10-week-old Infant Who Has Jaundice Pediatr. Rev., December 1, 2001; 22(12): 408 - 412. [Full Text] [PDF]