Quantitative Cholescintigraphy Research Articles

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia: Which patients have long term benefit?

Biliary dyskinesia (BD) is described as biliary colic in the absence of gallstones. The diagnosis relies on imaging studies and decreased excretion of bile in response to cholecystokinin during quantitative cholescintigraphy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for relieving symptoms in patients diagnosed with BD and correlate gallbladder ejection fraction (EF) with symptom relief. A retrospective review was performed at a single institution of all patients who underwent LC for BD from January 2005 through January 2012. The diagnosis of BD was determined by a normal gallbladder as viewed with ultrasonography and cholescintigraphy with a gallbladder EF less than or equal to 45%. Data collection included demographics, results of imaging studies, pathologic diagnosis, and early postoperative pain relief. Patients were contacted by phone after being discharged from the surgeon's care for evaluation of symptom relief. Data were analyzed with nonparametric statistical methods, including Mann-Whitney U test, receiver operator characteristic, Fisher exact test, and χ(2) test. All data are expressed as median and 25th and 75th percentile range. There were 126 patients who had a LC for BD during the study period. The median biliary EF was 20% (10-29%). The most common pathologic finding was chronic cholecystitis (n = 95; 75%). Median length of follow-up in the perioperative period was 11 days (8-17), during which time 98 patients (78%) had relief of symptoms. Phone interviews (n = 53; 42%) confirmed 66% (n = 35) of patients remained free of pain. There was no difference in the mean EF among those with resolution of pain 20% (10-29%) compared with patients with persistent pain 23% (11-29%), P = .62. Obese patients were more likely to have persistent symptoms in the perioperative period with a shift to lower body mass index at the time of the phone survey. Receiver operator characteristic characteristic for the association between scintigraphic EF and resolution of postoperative pain demonstrated no association, with the area under the curve equal to 0.47. The majority of patients in this series with BD had resolution of symptoms with LC. However, cholescintigraphy EF did not correlate with outcome. Further studies are needed to better identify patients diagnosed with BD who will benefit from LC.

Quantitative cholescintigraphy with fatty meal in the diagnosis of Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and acalculous cholecystopathy

To evaluate the role of quantitative cholescintigraphy with fatty meal in the management of biliary dyskinesia and to describe the findings according to Sostre score (SS) criteria in patients with gallbladder (GB) in-situ and biliary pain. We performed a retrospective analysis of the hepatobiliary (HIDA) studies (n = 35) performed for evaluation of biliary dyskinesia either due to biliary pain, opioid induced sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), recurrent pancreatitis (RP) or post cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). Gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) was calculated from the post fatty meal HIDA images (excluding PCS patients). Studies with GBEF ≤40 % and SS >4 were considered to have cholecystopathy and SOD respectively. Three of the 13 patients with PCS had SS of 6 each, suggestive of SOD. Delayed biliary visualization (>15 min) and activity in common bile duct 60 min > liver 15 min were the specific features in these cases. Opioid induced SOD patients had SS >4 with retrograde refilling of GB in one patient and normalization of the SS parameters after nifedipine challenge in the other patient. Patients with RP and biliary pain were stratified into four groups, normal (GBEF >40 % and SS ≤4), cholecystopathy (GBEF ≤40 % and SS ≤4), normal with SOD (GBEF >40 % and SS >4) and cholecystopathy with SOD (GBEF ≤40 % and SS >4). Four patients with intact GB had cholecystopathy with scintigraphic features of SOD. Quantitative cholescintigraphy with fatty meal and SS scoring identified biliary dyskinesia and SOD in patients with biliary pain, recurrent pancreatitis and post-cholecystectomy syndrome.

Role of Quantitative Cholescintigraphy for Planning Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients With Gallbladder Dyskinesia and Chronic Abdominal Pain

Our aim was to examine the diagnostic role and therapeutic guide of quantitative cholescintigraphy in 122 patients with a biliary-type chronic abdominal pain and normal abdominal ultrasound. The patients with severe symptoms and an impaired ejection fraction (EF<or=35%) of the gallbladder in cholescintigraphy were operated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC, n=32). The nonsurgical groups consisted of the patients with mild clinical symptoms and pathologic (<or=35%, n=52) or normal (>35%, n=38) EF. An impaired gallbladder emptying was found in 84/122 of patients (69%) and LC was performed in 32/122 (26%) of the patients, that is, 2.2% of all cholecystectomies in our hospital. After the mean follow-up of 4 years, chronic abdominal pain was totally improved or diminished in 92% in the LC group, 45% in the nonoperative group with EF<or=35%, and in 66% in the nonoperative group with EF>35%, respectively (P=0.0003). Quantitative cholescintigraphy is a useful aid when considering the treatment options in patients with chronic biliary-type abdominal pain and a negative abdominal ultrasound.

Impact of Food on Hepatic Clearance of Patients After Endoscopic Sphincterotomy

The recurrence rate of common bile duct stones (CBDS) is around 3-21% after treatment by endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Fatty meal has been shown to improve hepatic clearance in both patients with intact gallbladder and post-cholecystectomy after ES. This study tested the effects of different kinds of food on hepatic clearance by using quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) in patients after ES. Forty-seven patients after ES with abnormal QC were enrolled in our study. Complete ablation of sphincter function was confirmed by sphincter of Oddi manometry. Fasting QC was done in every patient shortly after normalization of liver function, and then followed with low-fat and fatty-meal QC. Each of the 47 subjects was observed for the effect on hepatic clearance at 3 different levels of treatments (diets and fasting). Additionally, possible factors responsible for recurrent CBDS were investigated by means of logistic regression. Both fatty and low-fat meals could significantly improve hepatic clearance compared with fasting in most patients after ES. But the response to food types was individualized. All patients tolerated the meals well. There was no significant relationship between the recurrence of CBDS and sex, age, intact gallbladder and presence of juxtapapillary diverticulum, CBD size, and improvement in hepatic clearance (> or = 5%) by food. Both fatty and low-fat meals improved hepatic clearance in most of the patients with CBDS after ES, but the response to meals was individualized. Therefore, there is no need to restrict the amount of fat intake for patients who have undergone ES.

Reproduction of Postprandial Symptoms with Cholecystokinin Injection: An Indication for Cholecystectomy without the Presence of Gallstones or an Abnormal Ejection Fraction on Quantitative Cholescintigraphy?

Quantitative cholescintigraphy with cholecystokinin injection is commonly used to assess patients without evidence of cholelithiasis but with functional biliary pain. However, normal results may not always exclude the possibility of pathologic biliary disease. Retrospective review of prospectively collected data on eight patients with biliary colic, no evidence of cholelithiasis, a normal quantitative cholescintigraphy ejection fraction but with reproduction of their specific symptoms on cholecystokinin injection was performed. The mean ejection fraction was 66.2 per cent. All of these patients underwent cholecystectomy with complete resolution of their symptoms. Pathology was abnormal in all cases. Patients with symptoms suggestive of biliary disease with reproduction of these symptoms on cholecystokinin injection may benefit from cholecystectomy even in the absence of abnormally low ejection fraction on quantitative cholescintigraphy.

Three-dimensional sonographic evaluation of gallbladder contractility: Comparison with cholescintigraphy

To compare three-dimensional sonography (3D US) with quantitative cholescintigraphy for assessing gallbladder contractility. Gallbladder radioactivity was assessed in 35 patients with suspected gallbladder disease using a gamma camera 5, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after technetium 99m (Tc-99m) DISIDA injection and 30 and 60 minutes after ingestion of a high-fat meal. Immediate gallbladder images were obtained via 3D US. Gallbladder radioactivity at 120 minutes after injection of Tc-99m DISIDA was defined as 100%, and gallbladder contractility was calculated. Gallbladder volume on 3D US was calculated using a dedicated software. Pearson correlation analysis and simple linear regression analysis were used. The mean gallbladder volume on 3D US was 25.3 ml after fasting and 6.6 ml after a high-fat meal. The mean gallbladder contractility index was 77.7% on cholescintigraphy (range, 18-99) and 73.4 on 3D US (range, 16.7-97.3). A linear correlation between cholescintigraphy and 3D US contractility indices was observed. The r value on Pearson analysis was 0.92 and R(2) of the coefficient of determination was 0.85. The difference in measured contractility between the 2 methods ranged from +21.5% to -15.0% (mean +/- SD, 4.4 +/- 8.7%). 3D US is a reliable and easy method for clinical measurement of the volume of the gallbladder and its contractility.

Influence of juxtapapillary diverticulum on hepatic clearance in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy

The role of juxtapapillary diverticulum ( JPD) in biliary stone formation is controversial. This study was designed to understand the relationship between the size of JPD, hepatic clearance and recurrent bile duct stones in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Five hundred and twenty patients with choledocholithiasis who had received endoscopic sphincterotomy were enrolled. They were divided into three groups: group A (n = 268) without diverticula; group B (n = 156) with small diverticula; and group C (n = 96) with large diverticula. All patients were regularly followed with interviews, liver function test and sonogram to detect the recurrent bile duct stones. Quantitative cholescintigraphy was performed in 176 cholecystectomized patients to evaluate the hepatic clearance. Sphincter of Oddi manometry was performed to exclude incomplete sphincterotomy if quantitative cholescintigraphy was abnormal. After 9-111 months of follow-up, 76 patients had recurrent bile duct stones. There was a significant higher bile duct stone recurrence in group C than in group A (P < 0.01), but no statistical difference was noted between group B and group A (P = 0.2). Patients with JPD were older than those without (P < 0.05). Of 176 cholecystectomized patients, two were excluded because sphincter of Oddi basal pressure was more than 10 mmHg. In the remaining 174 patients, the E45' was significantly lower in group C than in group A (41.2% +/- 18.6%vs 49.1% +/- 14.1%; P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between group B and group A. JPD is a predisposing factor of delayed biliary emptying and it increases the chance and incidence of recurrent bile duct stones.

Biliary dyskinesia: a potentially unrecognized cause of abdominal pain in children.

Biliary dyskinesia is defined as symptomatic biliary colic without cholelithiasis, and is diagnosed during cholescintigraphy by assessing gallbladder emptying with cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulation. Unfortunately, gallbladder emptying is not routinely assessed during cholescintigraphy in pediatric patients. The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness of cholecystectomy in patients with chronic abdominal pain and delayed gallbladder emptying and to assess whether these findings correlate with the histologic evidence of chronic cholecystitis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients ( n=16) at our institution from October 1997 to August 2001 who underwent quantitative cholescintigraphy with CCK stimulation that demonstrated delayed gallbladder emptying (< 35% at 60 min) and who subsequently underwent cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 16 patients with chronic abdominal pain. All 16 patients had delayed gallbladder emptying (mean ejection fraction: 15+/-8%, range: 3-32%). The mean age was 12+/-2 years (range: 8-17 years). Presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (86%), fatty food intolerance (27%), emesis (13%), and diarrhea (13%). Mean duration of abdominal pain before operation was 11+/-19 months (range: 2 weeks-6 years). One patient's symptoms persisted postoperatively, but abdominal pain resolved in all other patients. Histologic evidence of chronic cholecystitis was demonstrated in 86% of surgical specimens. Five patients underwent concurrent appendectomy, and all had normal appendiceal histology. Our experience suggests that children with chronic abdominal pain and delayed gallbladder emptying on CCK-stimulated cholescintigraphy are likely to benefit from cholecystectomy and to have histologic evidence of chronic cholecystitis.

Ultrasonography in the assessment of gallbladder motor activity.

Ultrasonography is an accurate and useful method for studying gallbladder volume variations and thus indirectly gallbladder emptying and refilling in humans. It has been shown that gallbladder main motor function is the result of a bellows-like mechanism with outflow and inflow of bile occurring during continuously alternating phases of gallbladder emptying and filling, that in turn lead to bile recycling within the gallbladder. Therefore, bile flux through the gallbladder cannot be properly expressed by time and rate of gallbladder emptying and gallbladder ejection fraction. In an attempt to analyse the gallbladder volume-hepatic bile flux relationship, simultaneous assessment of the gallbladder volume variations at ultrasonography and of the labelled bile in the gallbladder at cholescintigraphy during continuous infusion of an hydroxy iminodiacetic acid compound has been carried out. By applying a mathematical model to the analysis of gallbladder volume ultrasonography measurements, it is possible to measure the flux of bile through the gallbladder. By validating ultrasonography assessment of gallbladder volume variations with quantitative cholescintigraphy, it has been shown that the single non-invasive ultrasonography technique with serial frequent measurements of the gallbladder volume enables separate estimation of the flux of bile through the gallbladder in humans and in physiological conditions. In the postprandial state, hepatic bile was mainly: (1) stored in the gallbladder in a first phase; (2) emptied from the gallbladder in a second phase; and (3) stored in the gallbladder in a third phase. The amount of bile flowing bidirectionally through the cystic duct was about fivefold greater than that estimated with the usually employed variables, such as gallbladder ejection fraction or emptying and refilling delta volume. The mathematical analysis of minute-by-minute ultrasonography measurements of gallbladder volume variations yields both physiological and pathological insights. In healthy volunteers, it has been shown that: (1) caloric content of meals affects the total amount of bile recycled by the gallbladder; and (2) fat content of meals affects the modality of gallbladder emptying and refilling but does not affect the total amount of bile recycled by the gallbladder. In gallstone patients, a decreased turnover of bile has been shown which may contribute to cholesterol crystal precipitation and stone growth. In conclusion, unlike conventional variables used to assess gallbladder motor function such as gallbladder ejection fraction and rate of gallbladder emptying, mathematical analysis of frequent ultrasonography measurements of gallbladder volume variations enables non-invasive estimation of bile flow through the gallbladder in normal and abnormal physiological conditions.

Evidence of impaired gallbladder function in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by quantitative cholescintigraphy

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is considered to predispose impaired gallbladder function and an increased prevalence of gallbladder disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gallbladder function of patients with NIDDM by quantitative technetium-99m-labeled imino-diacetic acid analogue (Tc-99m DISIDA) cholescintigraphy. One hundred and forty-five NIDDM patients (100 males, 45 females; age: 58.7±9.5 years) with the absence of autonomic or peripheral neuropathy and without gallbladder or liver disorders were enrolled in this study. The patients were categorized by blood sugar control (HbA 1c≧10% as a poor blood sugar control group and HbA 1c<10% as a good blood sugar control group) and disease duration (diabetic duration ≧10 years as a longer-duration group and diabetic duration <10 years as a shorter-duration group). In addition, 60 normal controls (38 males, 22 females; age: 59.1±10.2 years) were also studied for comparison. All NIDDM patients and normal controls underwent Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy, and the filling fraction (FF) and ejection fraction (EF) of gallbladder were calculated. The results showed significant difference between (1) NIDDM patients versus normal controls in FF and EF, (2) poor versus good blood sugar control of NIDDM patients in FF and EF, and (3) longer versus shorter disease duration of NIDDM patients in FF and EF. Our study, including a large number of subjects, showed that gallbladder function of patients with NIDDM is more impaired than the normal controls; and impaired gallbladder function in NIDDM patients is related to disease duration and blood sugar control.

Does a fatty meal improve hepatic clearance in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy?

Delayed biliary emptying is a cause of recurrent bile duct stones in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) for choledocholithiasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fatty meal on hepatic clearance in patients after ES. Sixty patients who had received ES and complete clearance of bile duct stones were enrolled. Delayed hepatic clearance (45 min clearance of radioisotope [E45'] < 57%) from quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) and absence of sphincteric function confirmed by sphincter of Oddi manometry were found in each patient after normalization of liver function. Patients then received another QC 30 min after a fatty meal (two fried eggs and 250 mL full milk, fat 28 g) within 2 months. Improvement of hepatic clearance in QC after fatty meal was found in 20 of 24 (83%) cholecystectomized patients and 27 of 36 (75%) patients with intact gallbladder. The E45' after fatty meal was significantly higher than that without fatty meal (56 +/- 12%vs 40 +/- 9% in cholecystectomized patients, P < 0.001; 52 +/- 16%vs 35 +/- 11% in patients with intact gallbladder, P < 0.001). All patients tolerated the fatty meal well during fatty meal QC. Fatty meal can improve hepatic clearance in both patients with intact gallbladder and after cholecystectomy, so routine restriction of fat after ES may be inappropriate. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the role of diet in the prevention of recurrent biliary complications.

Does cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy prevent the recurrence of biliary complications?

Background: The intact gallbladder after endoscopic sphincterotomy is thought to be a potential risk factor for recurrent biliary complications. The aim of this non-randomized prospective study was to investigate whether cholecystectomy soon after endoscopic sphincterotomy could prevent the recurrence of biliary complications. Methods: From January 1991 to October 1995, 140 patients with intact gallbladder underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy for clearance of stones in the bile duct. Of the 140 patients, 46 underwent elective cholecystectomy soon after sphincterotomy (group A) and 94 did not (group B). All 140 patients had quantitative cholescintigraphy after normalization of liver function and were followed on a regular basis with liver biochemistry, sonography, and/or computed tomography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was also performed if a recurrent biliary problem was suspected. Results: After a median 43 months (range 23 to 80) of follow-up, 5 patients in group A developed bile duct stones whereas 12 patients in group B had recurrent stones; 4 patients in group A versus 6 patients in group B had recurrent biliary symptoms. One patient in group A and 5 patients in group B with recurrent biliary stones were without symptoms. In group B, the age, gender, diameter of the bile duct, preexisting cholelithiasis, abnormal filling of the gallbladder on quantitative cholescintigraphy, and presence of juxtapapillary diverticulum were not found to be the significant factors affecting the recurrence of biliary symptoms or stones. Endoscopic removal of recurrent biliary stones was successful in all patients. Three patients in group B underwent cholecystectomy after abatement of symptoms. Conclusion: Elective cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy does not reduce the incidence of recurrent biliary complications. (Gastrointest Endosc 1999;49:483-7.)

Biliary tract dysmotility

Biliary pain resulting from motility disorders is common and may be overlooked due to the difficulty of diagnosing the presence of these disorders. A sound, logical approach to the evaluation and treatment of these specific groups of disorders is essential. In patients who have a gallbladder, we initially exclude the presence of gallstones by use of transcutaneous ultrasonography. If a patient's symptoms are atypical, we initiate therapy (eg, antispasmodics) for irritable bowel syndrome. Subsequently, we perform a quantitative cholescintigraphy with a low-dose infusion of cholecystokinin in patients with typical symptoms and in those with persistent atypical symptoms. Those patients who have abnormally low gallbladder ejection fractions are subsequently referred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In postcholecystectomy patients, a standard approach should include obtaining serum liver associated laboratory chemistries, amylase and lipase levels, and a transcutaneous ultrasound to measure bile duct size. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is done to measure bile duct size, assess biliary duct emptying, and exclude other etiologies for pain. In patients with more than two abnormal findings on these tests (type I sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia), we recommend performing an empiric endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy. In patients with no objective abnormalities (type III sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia), it is appropriate to begin medical therapy with antispasmodics and calcium-channel antagonists. In individuals who have one or two abnormalities (type II sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia) we prefer endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy; however, these individuals are offered the opportunity to have endoscopic biliary manometry performed in order to establish a clear diagnosis. If patients refuse this procedure, after careful explanation of risks, alternatives, and possible benefits of the procedure, empiric endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy is performed.

Noninvasive estimate of bile flux through the gallbladder in humans

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether a single noninvasive technique, ultrasonography, is able in vivo: 1) to evaluate the time-related patterns of gallbladder bile storage and emptying, and 2) to quantitate the amount of bile flux through the gallbladder (GB). Methods: Healthy volunteers were submitted to the simultaneous assessment of gallbladder volume variations by frequent serial ultrasonographic (US) measurements and of hepatic bile flow through the GB by quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) during continuous i.v. infusion of 99 mTc-HIDA. An ad hoc mathematical analysis of US GB volume measurements was used to estimate the amount of bile flux through the GB. The QC-derived measurements of the flux of hepatic bile through the GB was used to substantiate the US-derived estimates. Results: The curves expressing the time-related GB handling of hepatic bile obtained independently from US and QC measurements were statistically equivalent, and both techniques showed that the patterns and the amount of hepatic bile handled by the gallbladder after meal ingestion is remarkably different during three successive phases. After meals, hepatic bile was mainly 1) stored in the GB in the first phase; 2) emptied from the GB in a second phase; and 3) stored in the GB in the third phase. The ultrasonographic analysis estimated that 1) 23.8 ± 12.5 ml (0.44 ± 0.11 ml/min), 5.1 ± 3.9 ml (0.15 ± 0.10 ml/min), and 33.2 ± 10.5 ml (0.53 ± 0.16 ml/min) of hepatic bile entered into the GB during the three successive postprandial phases, and 2) the entire amount of bile flowing bidirectionally through the cystic duct, during the observation period (132.6 ± 23.3 ml) was about five-fold greater than that estimated by the usually employed variables. Conclusion: The proposed mathematical analysis of frequent ultrasonographic measurements of the GB volumes enables one to estimate noninvasively the flux of bile through the gallbladder in humans.

The clinical utility of quantitative cholescintigraphy: the significance of gallbladder dysfunction.

Cholelithiasis is a common disorder occurring in over 20 million people in the United States and resulting in approximately 600,000 cholecystectomies annually. Although over 95% of biliary tract disease is caused by gallstones, the vast majority (>80%) of cholelithiasis cases are asymptomatic. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of quantitative cholescintigraphy in detecting symptomatic biliary tract disease and predicting clinical relief after cholecystectomy. Fifty-two patients with clinical symptoms of chronic cholecystitis were evaluated by cholescintigraphy with a gallbladder ejection fraction calculated after the intravenous administration of cholecystokinin. A gallbladder ejection fraction of > or =35% was considered a normal physiologic response. Forty-one of the patients subsequently underwent cholecystectomy, whereas the remaining 11 subjects were diagnosed and treated for non-biliary disorders that did not require cholecystectomies. After clinical follow-up including histopathological gallbladder findings, all subjects' final diagnoses were established and correlated with their quantitative cholescintigram study. Twenty-six of twenty-eight patients who had an abnormal quantitative cholescintigram demonstrated evidence of chronic cholecystitis by histopathologic criteria after cholecystectomy. Furthermore, 27 of these 28 patients (96%) experienced complete relief of their clinical symptoms after surgery. Functional cholescintigraphy is a safe, accurate, and useful test for detecting symptomatic gallbladder disease, and appears reliable in predicting symptomatic relief after cholecystectomy.

Prediction of recurrent choledocholithiasis by quantitative cholescintigraphy in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy

Background—Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is widely used for the removal of stones from the bile duct, but stones recur in about one fifth of patients.Aims—To investigate hepatic clearance by quantitative cholescintigraphy...

Gallbladder function and recurrent stones of the biliary tract in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Change in gallbladder function may occur in patients with an intact gallbladder after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). This study was designed to evaluate the factors influencing gallbladder filling after EST and the correlation between gallbladder function and stone recurrence. Sixty Chinese patients with symptomatic choledocholithiasis and an intact gallbladder received EST to clear the bile ducts. They were further investigated with sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM), quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC), and long-term clinical follow-up. Fifty-six of the 60 patients in the study group were confirmed to have a loss of sphincteric function by SOM. QC showed normal gallbladder filling in 35 of these patients and delayed or non-filling in 21 patients. A significantly higher incidence of normal gallbladder filling occurred in patients with juxtapapillary diverticulum than in those without (P < 0.02), but preexisting cholecystolithiasis had no effect on it. During the follow-up period (median, 32 months: range, 9-54 months) 10 of 56 patients developed recurrent choledocholithiasis. There was no correlation between the status of gallbladder filling, preexisting cholecystolithiasis, and recurrent stones, but 9 of the 10 patients with recurrent stones had a juxtapapillary diverticulum. Repeated endoscopic treatment was satisfactory in eight patients, and only two patients received cholecystectomy. EST does not alter gallbladder function in most patients. Juxtapapillary diverticulum may facilitate gallbladder filling after EST, but it is also a possible factor for recurrent choledocholithiasis.

Prediction of recurrent choledocholithiasis by quantitative cholescintigraphy in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy: [formula omitted], N.J. Peng 1, J.S. Cheng, G.H. Lo, I.M. Wang, N.M. Wang, R.L. Huang, C.F. Chang, S.M. Chen, C.K. Lin, J.S. Huang. Division of Gastroenterology & Nuclear Medicine 1, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Prediction of recurrent choledocholithiasis by quantitative cholescintigraphy in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy: [formula omitted], N.J. Peng 1, J.S. Cheng, G.H. Lo, I.M. Wang, N.M. Wang, R.L. Huang, C.F. Chang, S.M. Chen, C.K. Lin, J.S. Huang. Division of Gastroenterology & Nuclear Medicine 1, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

11. Comparison of single- vs dual-head acquisition in quantitative radionuclide cholescintigraphy

11. Comparison of single- vs dual-head acquisition in quantitative radionuclide cholescintigraphy

Efficacy of quantitative cholescintigraphy in the diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

The diagnostic efficacy of time-activity curves (TAC) and common bile duct dynamics (CBDD) derived from quantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) was assessed in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). Quantitative cholescintigraphy was performed on 34 cholecystectomized individuals with suspected SOD and 26 asymptomatic controls. Each patient with suspected SOD underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM). After exclusion of eight patients because of failure of manometry, the final diagnoses of the remaining 26 patients were taken as the gold standard by which to determine the detectability of TAC and CBDD. The sensitivity of TAC reached 68.8%. Common bile duct dynamics showed equal sensitivity but was more specific than TAC. The sensitivity improved to 87.5% when TAC and CBDD were combined. We conclude that non-invasive QC provides good sensitivity and specificity in evaluating cholecystectomized patients with suspected SOD.