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.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Tomohiro
T
Ishii
Masaki
M
Nio
Satoru
S
Shimaoka
Nobuyuki
N
Sano
Hideyuki
H
Sasaki
Dai
D
Kimura
Yutaka
Y
Hayashi
Ryoji
R
Ohi
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