Radiology, Vol 142, 773-776, Copyright © 1982 by Radiological Society of North America
The use of diethyl-IDA Tc 99m clearance curves in the differentiation of biliary atresia from other forms of neonatal jaundice
JC Leonard, DC Hitch and CV Manion
A family of isotope elimination curves that reflects changes in the
biodistribution of diethyl-IDA Tc 99m in neonatal cholestatic jaundice and
biliary atresia is defined. Time/activity curves generated from equal areas
over the heart and liver were evaluated separately and in conjunction with
the scintigraphic data. Patients without scintigraphic evidence of
significant hepatic uptake and with a hepatic curve that resembled the
cardiac curve were found to have neonatal hepatitis. Good hepatic uptake
and a hepatic curve with a terminal portion that appeared to be parallel to
or divergent from the cardiac curve were associated with biliary atresia.
Apparently converging hepatic and cardiac curves were associated with
biliary patency. Although preliminary, these results provide further
documentation that diethyl- IDA Tc 99m is useful in discriminating biliary
atresia from other causes of cholestatic jaundice, while reducing radiation
exposure and the need for pharmacologic intervention.
