Health

What are the causes of nonvisualization of the gallbladder on a hepatobiliary scan? The most common cause is acute cholecystitis. Many other potential causes, including various diseases and congenital problems, must be considered, however, in the differential diagnosis. Some Causes of False-Positive Results for Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis on Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy • Chronic cholecystitis • Complete common …

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What is the diagnostic pattern of radiotracer activity on a 99m Tc red blood cell (RBC) scan in a patient with a hemangioma in the liver? The diagnosis of hemangiomas in the liver using a 99m Tc RBC scan is based on identifying a photopenic area in the liver on early images with gradual fill in and increased radiotracer …

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What can a gallbladder ejection fraction study show? A gallbladder ejection fraction study can be performed in patients with a normally filling gallbladder who continue to have right upper quadrant symptoms. At the end of the standard hepatobiliary scan, CCK (or sometimes a fatty meal) is administered, and images are obtained for another 30 minutes. …

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When should cholecystokinin or morphine sulfate be used in relation to a hepatobiliary scan? CCK is used before the administration of a radiotracer for hepatobiliary scintigraphy when a patient has not eaten in more than 24 hours. The reason for the use of CCK is that the gallbladder can become filled with sludge with prolonged …

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What is the best scintigraphic test for the detection of splenic tissue? The 99m Tc heat-denatured RBC scan is the most sensitive and specific for evaluation of splenic tissue. Autologous RBCs are incubated at 50° C for 30 minutes, radiolabeled, and then reinjected. The main indications for performing such a study are to evaluate patients with heterotaxia, …

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What conditions result in a hot quadrate lobe and a hot caudate lobe on a liver or spleen scintigraphy? Superior vena cava obstruction results in increased radiotracer activity in the quadrate lobe (i.e., the medial segment) of the liver following intravenous radiotracer administration via an upper extremity vein. This occurs because collateral thoracic and abdominal …

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What are the current uses of liver or spleen scintigraphy? Liver/spleen scans performed after intravenous administration of 99m Tc sulfur colloid are rarely used in current practice given the availability of US, CT, and MRI, but their usual purpose is to evaluate liver function associated with cirrhosis, which leads to decreased radiotracer uptake in the liver and …

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