Clinical significance of 99mTc-DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin liver scintigraphy in follow-up patients with biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
Technetium 99m DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) liver scintigraphy was performed in follow-up patients with biliary atresia, and its clinical significance was investigated.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2001, GSA liver scintigraphy was performed 153 times in 57 follow-up patients. HH15, LHL15, and H/L15 (HH15/LHL15) were obtained. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the clinical status (good, n = 17; fair, n = 24; poor, n = 16). The correlation between these parameters and liver function tests was examined. Twenty-six patients of the 57 underwent 3 serial GSA scintigraphies and also were divided into 3 groups (good, n = 13; fair, n = 8; poor, n = 5). (3rd/1st)H/L15 (3rd H/L15/1st H/L15) was obtained and compared.


RESULTS
H/L15 had a correlation with serum albumin and serum cholinesterase. H/L15 was statistically different among 3 groups (good, 0.97 +/- 0.15; fair, 0.94 +/- 0.09; poor, 1.12 +/- 0.21; P <.05). Although most patients in the good (10 patients; 76.9%) and fair (7 patients; 87.5%) groups showed (3rd/1st)H/L15 of less than 1.1, 3 patients (60%) in the poor group showed (3rd/1st)H/L15 of more than 1.1. (3rd/1st)H/L15 in the poor group was significantly higher than those in good and fair groups (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Technetium 99m-GSA liver scintigraphy is useful to assess the functional hepatic reserve in follow-up patients with biliary atresia. Serial assessment with GSA scintigraphy can provide the trend of the patient's liver condition and can estimate the prognosis of the liver.
Ishii
Tomohiro
T
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Nio
Masaki
M
Shimaoka
Satoru
S
Sano
Nobuyuki
N
Sasaki
Hideyuki
H
Kimura
Dai
D
Hayashi
Yutaka
Y
Ohi
Ryoji
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D002802:Cholinesterases; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate