[Functional diagnosis of biliary endoprostheses using hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy]

In 11 patients with biliary endoprosthesis, hepatobiliary scintigraphy with dimethyliminodiacetic acid (HIDA) was performed 16 times because of an increase in the serum bilirubin level. For the demonstration of dysfunction of the endoprosthesis, this method proved to have the same sensitivity as transhepatic cholangiography, which was performed as control examination. Therefore, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, a noninvasive and well-tolerated examination, can be recommended as a primary diagnostic tool in addition to ultrasonography for assessment of the drainage function of the biliary endoprosthesis.