Gastrointestinal Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is an NM test that uses bilirubin-like radiotracer that offers dynamic visualization of the hepatocyte function (clearance of radiotracer from the blood by the liver), bile flow (radiotracer passage from the liver), and patency of the biliary tree (radiotracer tracking through), as well as its intestinal passage. The common RF used is ^99mTc-mebrofenin. The most common indications for this test include acute cholecystitis (AC), chronic abdominal pain due to functional gallbladder disorders (goes by many other terms, e.g., “gallbladder dyskinesia”, etc.), and biliary leak. The imaging is usually carried out in dynamic planar mode (Fig 37.1a), but static planar imaging and occasionally SPECT or SPECT/CT may be helpful to clarify or resolve uncertain findings.