The use of diethyl-IDA Tc 99m clearance curves in the differentiation of biliary atresia from other forms of neonatal jaundice.

A family of isotope elimination curves that reflects changes in the biodistribution of diethyl-IDA Tc 99m in neonatal cholestatic jaundice and biliary atresia is defined. Time/activity curves generated from equal areas over the heart and liver were evaluated separately and in conjunction with the scintigraphic data. Patients without scintigraphic evidence of significant hepatic uptake and with a hepatic curve that resembled the cardiac curve were found to have neonatal hepatitis. Good hepatic uptake and a hepatic curve with a terminal portion that appeared to be parallel to or divergent from the cardiac curve were associated with biliary atresia. Apparently converging hepatic and cardiac curves were associated with biliary patency. Although preliminary, these results provide further documentation that diethyl-IDA Tc 99m is useful in discriminating biliary atresia from other causes of cholestatic jaundice, while reducing radiation exposure and the need for pharmacologic intervention.