Abstract:
Assessment of the hepatobiliary system by nuclear medicine techniques in infant age of twelve months indicated to help determine the etiology of jaundice. The majority of cases occur in children in the first three month of life. This article primarily addresses the use of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the neonatal period, but it also identifies other conditions that can occur in the first 12 month of life. The aim of this study was to characterize liver imaging objectively so as to over com the subjectively of the diagnosis.
One hundred and thirty five infants under 12 months age (65 females and 70 males) were studied in nuclear medicine department. 99mTc HIDA scan was administered intravenously, and images obtained for up to 24 hours or until gastrointestinal excretion was noted.
The results of this study showed that there is linear relationship between count at 5 minute and time from 10 to 60 using 5-minute interval, demonstrate this relationship; which start at 1.2 counts/minute at 10 minute up to 1.5 at 60 minute. And the absorption of radiopharmaceutical (Tc99m HIDA) From 5 min until 35 mint shows there was slightly decreases in execration of radiotracer from 35 min up 60mint but still more the base count at 5 minute. The hepatic activity washout, also called percent of radiotracer excreted, can be expressed by a percent clearance from T max to a specific time (typically at 30, 45, 60, and 90 min).
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy should be used as part of the overall evaluation of neonates and infants with cholestasis and jaundice.