The role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in cystic fibrosis.
This was a prospective open study that examined the quantitative and qualitative analysis of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (DISIDA) in detecting liver involvement in cystic fibrosis (CF). Forty-four adult and pediatric patients (median age, 12.1 years; range, 1.1-36.3 years) were divided into three groups: group 1, no evidence of liver involvement (n = 8); group 2, biochemical evidence of liver involvement on two or more occasions (n = 26); and group 3, clinical evidence of liver disease (n = 10). In groups 1 and 2, the most common qualitative scintigraphic finding was focal intrahepatic retention of tracer (26/34 patients, 12 of whom had normal findings on ultrasonography). This finding corresponds to focal cholestasis and may warrant treatment with the choleretic agent ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In the group 3 patients, the abnormal qualitative scintigraphic appearances (heterogeneous uptake of tracer and nodular liver outline) added little to the findings on ultrasonography; however, these patients had a prolonged mean hepatic clearance time compared with those in groups 1 and 2 (one-way ANOVA; P < .015). It is proposed that scintigraphy with DISIDA has a role in the detection of early liver involvement in cystic fibrosis.
O'Connor
P J
PJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, England.
Southern
K W
KW
Bowler
I M
IM
Irving
H C
HC
Robinson
P J
PJ
Littlewood
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013654:Taurine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013654:Taurine; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid