title: Gall bladder visualization in lymphoscintigraphy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate gall bladder visualization in lymphoscintigraphy of extremities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients who had prediagnoses of lymphedema and were referred for lower extremity lymphoscintigraphy to our department were retrospectively evaluated. Lower extremity lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m sulfur colloid was performed on the patients, and planar images of the lower extremity and abdominal region were taken in early phase and late phase (at the 24th hour) routinely. Lymphoscintigraphy results of eight patients were normal regarding lymphatic flow or lymph nodes; however, additional pathologic tracer accumulations in gall bladder were observed, which disappeared at 24th hour images in three patients. Five patients had various pathologies regarding lymph flow or lymph nodes. However, there were no patients with gall bladder activity except those three patients who had casual anamnesis of fasting prior to the exam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fasting state of the patients might be the cause of gall bladder visualization during the lymphoscintigraphy of the extremities with sulfur colloid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Firat (Euphrates) University, Elazig, Turkey. tansel_balci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tansel Ansal
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Balci
authors.forename: Zehra Pinar
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Bedriye Busra
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
authors.forename: Sevim Sureyya
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cerci
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
chemical_list: D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid