Possible utility of Tc-99m PIPIDA time-activity curves in evaluation of neonatal jaundice

In a small group of 12 patients investigated it appears that it may be feasible to differentiate between the neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia using the blood pool and liver time-activity curves obtained during the first hour after the injection of Tc-99m labeled para-isopropyl-acetaniliodominodiacetic acid (Tc-99m PIPIDA). The hepatic and blood curves are divergent in biliary atresia and parallel in neonatal hepatitis. There may also be a role of urinary bladder curves. They were convergent to the hepatic curves in hepatitis and parallel in biliary atresia. Further studies are needed in a larger patient population to validate these very preliminary results. This technique may obviate need for pharmacological intervention and delayed imaging