Detection of a suspected bronchobiliary fistula by hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) represents a rare but severe complication in patients affected by liver metastases. Although a clinical suspicion can arise when specific clinical signs, in particular biliptysis, are present, conventional imaging modalities often fail to confirm the diagnosis. We present a case of a patient affected by colon cancer with liver metastases previously treated with partial right-sided hepatectomy and multiple thermo-ablative treatments combined with chemotherapy, who manifested a septic fever associated with productive cough and biliptysis. Diagnosis of BBF was confirmed only by hepatobiliary scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-heptoiminodiacetic acid.
Annovazzi
Alessio
A
Nuclear Medicine Division, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi, 53 00162 Rome, Italy. alessio.annovazzi@alice.it
Viceconte
Giovanni
G
Romano
Luisa
L
Sciuto
Rosa
R
Maini
Carlo L
CL