Abstract
Cholescintigraphy with 99mTc-hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals has been an important, clinically useful diagnostic imaging study for almost 4 decades. It continues to be in much clinical demand; however, the indications, methodology, and interpretative criteria have evolved over the years. This review will emphasize state-of-the-art methodology and diagnostic criteria for various clinical indications, including acute cholecystitis, chronic acalculous gallbladder disease, high-grade and partial biliary obstruction, and the postcholecystectomy pain syndrome, including sphincter-of-Oddi dysfunction and biliary atresia. The review will also emphasize the use of diagnostic pharmacologic interventions, particularly sincalide.
- hepatobiliary scintigraphy
- cholescintigraphy
- acute cholecystitis
- chronic cholecystitis
- chronic acalculous gallbladder disease
- biliary dyskinesia
Footnotes
Published online Apr. 17, 2014.
Learning Objectives: On successful completion of this activity, participants should be able to describe (1) diagnostic uses of hepatobiliary scintigraphy; (2) proper methodology for performing cholescintigraphy for various clinical indications; (3) pharmacologic interventions; and (4) image interpretative criteria to make clinical diagnoses.
Financial Disclosure: The author of this article has indicated no relevant relationships that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest.
CME Credit: SNMMI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing education for physicians. SNMMI designates each JNM continuing education article for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For CE credit, participants can access this activity through the SNMMI website (http://www.snmmi.org/ce_online) through June 2017.
- © 2014 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.