Rose bengal sodium I 131 studies in infants with suspected biliary atresia
P. W. Hayden, T. G. Rudd and D. L. Christie
Twenty-eight infants suspected of having biliary atresia were studied with
radionuclide imaging and quantitation of liver activity clearance using
rose bengal sodium I 131. Scanning the abdomen for the presence or absence
of gut radioactivity was a sensitive indicator of complete biliary
obstruction. Absence of gut radioactivity correctly predicted biliary
atresia in all 11 infants proved to have that diagnosis. Biliary atresia
was excluded by the presence of gut radioactivity in 13 of 17 infants with
other forms of neonatal juandice. When present, gut activity was
identifiable within 24 hours after injection. Serial tests improved
specificity. Plotting the rate of clearance of liver activity did not aid
diagnosis.
