levergallvägsskintigrafi

Levergallvägsskintigrafi, also known as hepatobiliary scintigraphy, is a non-invasive nuclear medicine imaging technique used to evaluate the function and structure of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. The procedure involves the intravenous injection of a small amount of a radioactive tracer, typically technetium-99m-labeled iminodiacetic acid (IDA) derivatives.

This tracer is taken up by the liver cells and then secreted into the bile. A gamma camera then monitors the tracer's passage through the biliary system over a period of time, usually 30 to 60 minutes, though sometimes extended to several hours. The images produced show how the tracer fills and empties from the gallbladder and how it travels through the bile ducts into the small intestine.

Levergallvägsskintigrafi is primarily used to diagnose and assess various conditions affecting the hepatobiliary system. It is particularly useful in identifying gallbladder disease, such as cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) and cystic duct obstruction. It can also detect bile duct obstructions, such as those caused by gallstones or tumors, and assess the patency of surgical biliary reconstructions. Furthermore, it can evaluate liver transplant function and diagnose certain types of cirrhosis or hepatocellular dysfunction. The study is generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects.