99Tcm-DISIDA hepatobiliary imaging in evaluating gallbladder function in patients with spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with increased prevalence of gallstones and acute acalculous cholecystitis. A possible explanation for the increased prevalence of gallstones in SCI patients is decreased gallbladder motility causing gallbladder stasis. In this study, we investigated gallbladder function in patients with SCI.


METHODS
Eighteen normal controls, 16 trauma controls and 46 SCI patients were included in this study. Gallbladder function was measured by technium 99m-labeled imino-diacetic acid analogue ((99)Tc(m)-DISIDA) hepatobiliary imaging and represented by filling fraction (FF) and ejection fraction (EF). The data from SCI patients were analyzed according to old versus young, female versus male, heavy versus light body weight, ASIA A & B versus ASIA C & D classification, high- versus low-level injury, and long versus short injury duration.


RESULTS
Fifty-two percent of SCI patients had abnormal FF and 59% had abnormal EF. Significantly decreased FF and EF values were found in SCI patients, especially in female patients with severe and high-level injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative (99)Tc(m)-DISIDA cholescintigraphy showed that SCI can significantly impair gallbladder function.
Xia
Chang-Suo
CS
Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China. xcs009@163.com
Yang
Xuan-Ying
XY
Hong
Guang-Xiang
GX
D000328:Adult; D041761:Cholecystolithiasis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin