The role of 99Tcm-EHIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the estimation of gallbladder motility in patients with liver cirrhosis

Objective: To investigate the role of 99Tcm-2,6-diethylacetanilide-iminodiacetic acid (EHIDA) hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the estimation of gallbladder motility in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Liver cirrhosis subjects and normal subjects were included. Patients were further divided into two groups: gallstones group and no gallstone group. Serial hepatobiliary images were taken for 65 min at 1-minute intervals. Two regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen: ROI1, over the entire gallbladder; ROI2, over the entire liver, and time-activity curves were generated for both regions. And then latent period (LP), ejection period (EP), gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) and ejection rate (ER) were calculated. Results: Significant differences in GBEF, LP and ER were found between 14 normal subjects and 58 cirrhosis patients. Significant differences in incidence of gallbladder motility abnormality, thickening of gallbladder wall and serum total bile acid (TBA) were found between 15 cirrhosis patients with gallstones and 47 without gallstone. Conclusions: The gallbladder motility function of cirrhosis patients is impaired with the characteristic of impairment of GBEF and ER. 99Tcm-EHIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy is a noninvasive, safe and valuable method in the diagnosis of gallbladder motility dysfunction in cirrhosis patients. (authors)