Correlation between hepatobiliary scintigraphy and surgery or postmortem examination findings in dogs and cats with extrahepatic biliary obstruction, partial obstruction, or patency of the biliary system: 18 cases (1995-2004).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of serum biochemical variables and scintigraphic study results for differentiating between dogs and cats with complete extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHO) and those with partial EHO or patent bile ducts.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
17 dogs and 1 cat.


METHODS
Animals that underwent hepatobiliary scintigraphy and had either surgical or postmortem confirmation of the degree of bile duct patency were included. Scintigraphic images were evaluated and biliary tracts were classified as patent, partially obstructed but patent, or obstructed. Surgery or postmortem examination was considered the gold standard for diagnosis, and compared with those findings, sensitivity and specificity of scintigraphy were calculated.


RESULTS
With absence of radioactivity in the intestinal tract as the diagnostic criterion for EHO, the sensitivity and specificity of scintigraphic diagnosis were both 83% when final images were acquired at 19 to 24 hours, compared with 100% and 33%, respectively, when 180 minutes was used as the cutoff time. Animals with partial biliary obstruction had less intestinal radioactivity that arrived later than that observed in animals with patent biliary tracts.


CONCLUSIONS
Animals in which intestinal radioactivity has not been observed after the standard 3 to 4 hours should undergo additional scintigraphic imaging. Findings in animals with partial biliary obstruction include delayed arrival of radioactivity and less radioactivity in the intestine. Distinguishing between complete and partial biliary tract obstruction is important because animals with partial obstruction may respond favorably to medical management and should not be given an erroneous diagnosis of complete obstruction.
Head
Laurie L
LL
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-4544, USA.
Daniel
Gregory B
GB
D000818:Animals; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity