An evaluation of 99Tcm-labelled HIDA in hepatobiliary scanning

99Tcm-labelled HIDA administered intravenously is promptly taken up by the liver and excreted into the bile duct and gallbladder. In this study the use of this agent in hepatoscintigraphy was evaluated. Thirty patients with a variety of hepatobiliary pathology were studied. After an overnight fast 2 mCi of 99Tcm HIDA were given intravenously and the patient was scanned continuously for 1 h. A rapid outline of the liver and biliary tract was usually obtained and the T 1/2 of the tracer in the blood stream was 20 min. In total obstructive jaundice, isotope was excreted through the renal tract without visualization of the liver. Hepatoscintigraphy was compared with conventional radiographs and ultrasonography in 19 patients presenting an emergencies with suspected hepatobiliary disease and was found to be comparable to the latter modes of investigation. In the jaundiced patients hepatoscintigraphy was inferior to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and to ultrasonography. No adverse side effects have followed the use of the radiopharmaceutical.