Diagnostic Utility of Tc-99m DISIDA Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia

Abstract Background Biliary atresia (BA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH) are the two major causes of neonatal cholestasis (NC). However, both conditions had entirely different therapeutic schedule and prognosis. Considering BA as a surgical emergency, it is pretty important to accurately differentiate the two entities. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) using a semi-quantitative technique as well as 15-point histopathological scoring system in differentiating BA from NH. Results The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of HBS in the diagnosis of BA was 90.5%, 80%, and 83.6%, respectively. The median values of kidney-liver ratio (KLR), intestinal-liver ratio (ILR), and background-liver ratio (BLR) were significantly higher in patients with BA, while that of the liver-kidney ratio (LKR) was significantly lower in cases with BA. Moreover, KLR had the largest area under curve (AUC); advocates it to be the best of the semi-quantitative parameters that can predicts BA. Histopathological scoring using a cutoff point ≥ 7 was helpful in discriminating BA from NH with 85.7% sensitivity, 95% specificity and 91.8% accuracy. Conclusions HBS is a non-invasive diagnostic tool frequently used in diagnosis of BA, yet it has a relatively low specificity. To overcome this challenge, we kindly recommend the use of semi-quantitative parameters that could possibly improve the accuracy of HBS for diagnosing BA. Additionally, the use of 15-point scoring for liver biopsy was useful.

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Role of Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia in Infant with Neonatal Jaundice – Experiences in NINMAS

Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.3329/bjnm.v18i1.34935 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 51-53

Author(s):

Nasreen Sultana ◽

Zeenat Jabin ◽

Md Bashir ◽

Rahima Parveen ◽

Shamim MF Begum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Gall Bladder ◽

Biliary Atresia ◽

False Positive ◽

Hepatic Dysfunction ◽

Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy ◽

Hida Scan ◽

Complementary Role

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether gall bladder visualization can help to exclude the biliary atresia in hepatobiliary scintigraphic studies of infants with persistent jaundice.Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out at the National Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (NINMAS). Study subjects include infants with neo-natal jaundice who underwent Hepatobiliary scintigraphies for suspected biliary atresia and study period was 2 years. Food was withheld for 4 hours before the examination. Anterior images of liver and gall bladder were taken after i/v administration of 2 -3 mci 99m Tc labeled Brida (HIDA) at 5 min interval for 2 hours then at 4 hours and 24 hours. Non-visualization of bowel activity in HIDA scan in 24hours delayed images was considered as cases of diagnosis of biliary atresia.Results: Thirty-six patients were included in this retrospective study. Patent biliary channels was seen by scintigraphies in 17(47%) patients and biliary atresia was seen in 19(52%) patients. By abdominal US non- visualization of gall bladder were found in 25(69%) cases and gall bladder visualized in 11(30%) cases. Eight (22%) of 36 patients had biopsy confirmed biliary atresia; all of these had positive scintigraphies and (60%) had positive sonographic findings. Among the 5 false-positive scintigraphies caused by hepatic dysfunction and 2 had normal sonography. Thirty-six patients had periscintigraphic sonography. There were 25/36 (61%) abnormal studies, which included cases with small gallbladder (n = 8) and non-visualized gallbladder (n = 17), but not periportal fibrosis.Conclusion: Gall bladder was usually visible on Hepatobiliary scintigraphy of fasting patients with biliary patency. Both hepatobiliary scintigraphy and sonography are currently the standard imaging investigations for suspected biliary atresia. The complementary role, in which scintigraphy and sonography are important, and recommend follow-up imaging reassessment before making definitive surgical decisions. This will serve to decrease the frequency of false-positive imaging diagnoses of biliary atresia, and hence, avoid unnecessary surgeries.Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 18(1): 51-53, January 2015

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