Diagnostic evaluation of hepatobiliary scintigraphy using 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan in acute cholecystitis.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy using 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyl-tryptophan (99mTc-PMT) was carried out in 80 patients with benign biliary diseases, excluding cholecystectomized patients, for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Using the conventional diagnostic criteria based on nonvisualization of the gallbladder in acute cholecystitis, the specificity, efficiency and positive predictability test results were 63%, 72% and 45%, respectively. When delayed intestinal transit of radioactive material was added to this criteria, the diagnostic value was significantly improved (p less than 0.01); the specificity, efficiency and positive predictability test results were 97%, 97% and 90%, respectively. Delayed intestinal transit of radioactive material should be considered in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.