Hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the diagnosis of choledochal cysts in children.

The objective is to present the usefulness of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the investigation of children with suspected choledochal cysts through our experience in King Khalid University Hospital at King Saud University, Riyadh. Seven patients aged between I and 10 years (average 4.8 yrs) comprising six females and one male were investigated. Laboratory tests, abdominal Ultrasound and/or CT, and cholangiography were performed whenever indicated. Persistent activity in a dilated common bile duct, with or without dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts, was considered a positive indicator for choledochal cyst disease. Four children with cystic dilatation (type I) were diagnosed by hepatobiliary scintigraphy, one saccular (type II), and two cases of Caroli's disease (type V). The diagnosis of choledochal cyst was proven by surgery with histological confirmation. Visualization of the gallbladder occurred in one case only. The common bile duct was seen in four cases. Late activity in the bowel was noted in two cases.