title: Radionuclide angiography in suspected acute cholecystitis: further observations.
abstract: Radionuclide angiography (RNA) and cholescintigraphy were performed prospectively in 300 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis (AC). Of 79 patients with positive RNA, 63 had AC (80%). Positive RNA was seen in 23 of 26 cases with gangrenous AC (88%) while 12 of the 26 had a positive "rim" sign (46%). All 12 patients with a positive "rim" sign had positive RNA. The "rim" sign may be caused by increased perfusion. Five of 6 patients with positive RNA and "obstructive" pattern had AC (83%). Patients with negative RNA and positive cholescintigraphy had a positive predictive value of 54% (31/57), while those with positive RNA and positive cholescintigraphy had a positive predictive value of 85% (57/67). RNA showed increased perfusion to nonbiliary pathology such as liver abscesses and pyelonephritis. Positive RNA increases the predictive value of cholescintigraphy and may be useful to shorten cholescintigraphic examinations.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Colletti
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cirimelli
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Radin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandrasoma
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Ralls
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siegel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography