EVALUATION OF THE GALLBLADDER AND BILIARY TRACT FUNCTION BY BILIARY SCINTIGRAM

Abstract

Biliary scintigraphy is one of the most useful examination for the evaluation of pathophysiology of the biliary system among various techniques for imaging the biliary tract. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of bile flow dynamics and contraction of the gallbladder was performed in normal controls and in the patients with disease of gallbladder and/or bile duct, chronic liver disease, and malignancy. Results disclosed the dysfunction of the gallbladder and biliary tract in patients with biliary disease as well as in chronic liver disease and cancer of digestive tracts. Function of the gallbladder (vesica fellae) and sphincter of Oddi was well shown as sequential images based on tracer movement through the biliary tract and intestine. Abnormality of the system might be understood as vesicosphincter dysfunction.