Hepatobiliary scintigraphy in pediatric liver transplant recipients

The clinical usefulness of hepatobiliary scintigraphy was evaluated in pediatric liver transplant recipients. One hundred fifteen hepatobiliary scintigraphic studies were performed in 30 patients who received 22 whole liver and 16 segmental grafts. Parameters that were useful in predicting an adverse outcome were failure to visualize excreted radiopharmaceutical at or beyond the biliary anastomosis on a study performed within 24 hours after transplant, and persistent or increasing delay in the time of visualization of excreted radiopharmaceutical. Abnormalities of liver uptake and excretion were seen in rejection, but they were also seen in patients who remained well without rejection or parenchymal disease. Significant biliary leaks were identified in the three cases in which they were known to be present. In liver transplant recipients, hepatobiliary imaging is useful in predicting graft survival and identifying biliary leaks.