Bile leak detection by radionuclide scintigraphy.

INTRODUCTION

Bile leak after liver injury has been reported to be a complication associated with significant mortality. Tc99m-IDA (Tc: Technetium) nuclear scan allows rapid and noninvasive diagnosis of bile leak.

OBJECTIVE

An accidental case was referred for the detection of suspicious bile leak.

METHODS

The ultrasound could not detect any abnormality. Dynamic Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy (DHBS) using radiolabeled tracer was performed.

RESULTS

DHBS promptly detected the site of leak.

CONCLUSION

This technique should be opted because it has been found to be quite sensitive, specific and accurate for detecting the bile leak, whereas, Ultrasound and CT imaging are less sensitive and nonspecific. Though, they are initially helpful in determining the presence of abdominal fluid collections, they are unable to differentiate between a seroma, lymphocele, hematoma or bile leak. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is more accurate because it can demonstrate continuity of these fluid collections with the biliary tree. Further, hepatobiliary scintigraphy can provide real-time assessment of hepatocytes function and bile progression from the liver to the intestine.