The use of [99mTc](2,6-diethylacetanilide)-iminodiacetic acid ([99mTc]HIDA) in evaluating normal hepatobiliary dynamics

Scintigraphic examination with [99mTc]HIDA was used to investigate fasting hepatobiliary dynamics in thirty normal subjects, fifteen males and fifteen females. Ten were studied in duplicate. All subjects visualized the bile ducts and showed gallbladder filling within 60 min. All but three demonstrated excretion of bile to the duodenum. Only five subjects showed activity in the gut before gallbladder visualization. Twenty-one had one or more contractions of the gallbladder. A significant positive correlation was found between age and excretory liver function in males, signifying a lower excretory capability with advancing age. The median percentic deviation for gallbladder and gut visualization in repeat tests was 40% and 88%, respectively. It is concluded that the hepatic bile in the fasting state is delivered to the gallbladder as well as to the duodenum. Furthermore, the results suggest a cyclic function of the biliary tract based upon coordination between the gallbladder and the sphincter of Oddi.