Dynamic study of pancreaticobiliary reflux using secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in patients with choledochal cysts

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Refluxes through pancreaticobiliary maljunctions play an important role in the pathophysiology of choledochal cysts. Dynamic studies of the pancreaticobiliary tract were performed using secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

METHODS

Six patients with choledochal dilation were recruited for this study. Four patients exhibited cystic and 2 exhibited fusiform dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD). Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography images were obtained every minute during the 15-minute period after secretin stimulation. The sequential morphological changes in the biliary trees, pancreas, and duodenum were assessed, and the total pixel values of these organs were measured for each image, then plotted as a ratio against the baseline image.

RESULTS

In 2 cases involving cystic dilatation, the intensity of bile duct images continued to rise after secretin stimulation. In a case involving fusiform dilatation, a transitory elevation in CBD intensity was observed. In 3 cases involving fusiform or cystic dilatation, the intensity of CBD did not change notably. In all cases, the duodenum was filled well after secretin stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The sustained elevation in bile duct intensity after secretin stimulation indicates reflux and bile stasis. Transitory elevation may indicate reflux without stasis. This method allows assessment of the dynamics of pancreatic and bile fluid under more physiologic condition.

Sonographic demonstration of duodenobiliary reflux with soda enhancement

Cholangitis rarely occurs after sphincteroplasty if there is no biliary obstruction. We report the case of a patient who developed recurrent cholangitis despite having a patent biliary tract after sphincteroplasty. Duodenobiliary reflux was demonstrated on sonography after enhancement of the reflux flow with a novel oral contrast agent, a carbonated soda beverage. Sonography with contrast enhancement provided by soda solution may prove satisfactory to detect duodenobiliary reflux after sphincteroplasty safely, effectively, and economically.

Dual-Radionuclide Simultaneous Biliary and Gastric Scintigraphy to Depict Surgical Treatment of Bile Reflux

Biliary diversion procedures are performed during gastric surgery to decrease bile reflux. A 1-day dual-radionuclide examination was studied to determine its potential in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Braun enteroenterostomy in reducing bile reflux and its effects on gastric emptying. Orally ingested gallium 67-labeled egg and intravenously administered technetium 99m diisopropyl-imino-diacetic acid were imaged simultaneously. This provided a way to depict both bile reflux and gastric emptying on the same day in patients who underwent gastric surgery. Overall, the Braun enteroenterostomy trades bile reflux, a symptomatic and premalignant disease, for gastroparesis, a less severe and often treatable disease.

Duodenogastric bile reflux after gastric bypass: a cholescintigraphic study

In this exploratory study, we examined the occurrence of duodenogastric bile reflux to the excluded stomach after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a standard surgical therapy for morbid obesity. We studied 22 unselected patients (median age 44, 20 females) 18 months postoperatively. BMI at surgery and cholescintigraphy was 45 and 29 kg/m2, respectively. Mebrofenin labeled with 200 MBq 99mT was injected intravenously and the fate of radioactivity followed for 90 min. Bile flow was enhanced with cholecystokinin. We found scintigraphic evidence of duodenogastric bile reflux in 36% of the patients. The tracer remained in the excluded stomach throughout the study period. In conclusion, our investigation indicates that in more than one third of the patients undergoing gastric bypass, the gastric mucosa in the excluded stomach is exposed to the potential deleterious effects of bile.

New insight into bile flow dynamics in anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct

BACKGROUND

In an anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AAPBD), two-way regurgitation, including pancreaticobiliary reflux and biliopancreatic reflux (BPR), might occur. Although pancreaticobiliary reflux has been shown by high levels of pancreatic enzymes in bile, there have been few reports of clinical evidence of BPR in AAPBD. Recently, spiral computed tomography combined with intravenous infusion cholangiography (IVC-SCT) has been reported to be useful for visualizing the biliary anatomy, which may allow a new insight into bile flow dynamics in AAPBD.

METHODS

Fifteen paediatric patients with AAPBD were examined before operation using both IVC-SCT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Visualization of the main pancreatic duct on IVC-SCT defined the presence of BPR. Blood samples were also analysed when the initial symptom was strongly present.

RESULTS

BPR was observed in six of 15 patients. Pancreatic enlargement and hyperamylasaemia were significantly more frequent in patients without BPR than in those with BPR. Levels of enzyme markers of cholestasis were also higher in the former group.

CONCLUSION

The present study, using IVC-SCT, has identified clinical evidence of BPR in AAPBD. Further studies are necessary to determine the correlation between BPR and clinical manifestations.

Cholangitis associated with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts after antireflux valve construction in biliary atresia

An intussusception-type antireflux valve (ARV) has been introduced to prevent postoperative ascending cholangitis in the management of biliary atresia (BA). We investigated the characteristics of cholangitis in the management of BA using the ARV in 38 patients who had undergone an operation at our institution; 29 underwent ARV construction at the same time as portenterostomy (PEO) or hepaticojejunostomy. One patient underwent ARV construction for refractory cholangitis with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts (CDIB) long after the PEO. Five of 29 patients who had ARV construction developed CDIB complicated by severe, refractory cholangitis. One or two episodes of mild cholangitis were observed in 5 (20.8%) of 24 patients who did not show CDIB. An ARV created for postoperative recurrent cholangitis associated with CDIB was ineffective. Preoperative cholangitis associated with a type I choledochal cyst and CDIB was observed in 1 patient. In conclusion, the ARV was effective in preventing refractory cholangitis without CDIB, but ineffective in preventing cholangitis with CDIB. Our findings suggest that CDIB resulting from the ongoing process of BA could be a potential target of bacterial infection through other routes than bilioenteric reflux.

Scintigraphic assessment of interdigestive duodenogastric reflux in humans: distinguishing between duodenal and biliary reflux material

BACKGROUND

Late duodenal phase III is characterized by retroperistalsis. The physiologic function of this phenomenon is unknown. Our aim was to study the relationship between duodenal motility and the transport of duodenal contents from the biliary tract and the duodenum by using a double-isotope technique.

METHODS

Manometric analysis of the direction of interdigestive duodenal pressure waves was performed in 12 volunteers. Duodenal marker was infused directly into the proximal duodenum, and bile marker was infused intravenously for 2 h. Radionuclide activity was examined for regions corresponding to the stomach, gallbladder, and duodenum.

RESULTS

In phase II, antegrade pressure waves dominated with propulsion of both markers to the jejunum. Retroperistalsis occurred in 90% of the activity fronts and was always (100%) followed by retropulsion of duodenal marker to the stomach. A clear-cut reflux of bile marker was seen in only 17% of the activity fronts. The incidence rate of duodenogastric reflux was highest in phase III (P=0.008) compared with phase II with an infrequent (P=0.002) admixture of bile. Bile marker contents increased abruptly in the gallbladder during phase III.

CONCLUSIONS

Late phase III acts as a retroperistaltic pump, retropelling duodenal contents to the stomach. In this physiologic duodenogastric reflux. bile is avoided by deviation to the gallbladder, probably by a phase lll-associated occlusion of the sphincter Oddi.

Enterogastric reflux mimicking gallbladder disease: detection, quantitation and potential significance

OBJECTIVE

Visualization of enterogastric reflux (EGR) may be present during hepatobiliary imaging. Reflux of bile may damage the gastric mucosa, altering its function, and cause such symptoms as epigastric pain, heartburn, nausea, intermittent vomiting and abdominal fullness. These symptoms also are associated with gallbladder disease. The aim of this study was to quantitate the EGR index (EGRI) and to determine if a difference exists in normal and abnormal responses using standard cholecystokinin (CCK)-augmented hepatobiliary imaging.

METHODS

This study used 129 patients. LAO dynamic data on a 128 x 128 matrix at a rate of 1 frame/min were obtained. After the gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) was determined, the EGRI (%) was calculated by relating the counts in the gastric ROI to the counts in the hepatobiliary ROI at a specified time. The results were compared with the patient's final clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS

Normal responders (GBEF > or = 35%) had a higher EGRI than abnormal responders with a P = 0.001 EGR observed in 75 patients (58.1%). Significant reflux (EGRI > or = 14.2% at 15 min) was observed in 29 additional patients (22.5%). Patients with EGRI > or = 24.5% showed a strong association with the pathophysiologic syndrome of gastritis, alkaline reflux, gastric ulcer and gastro esophageal reflux disease. There was no EGR observed in the remaining 25 patients (19.4%).

CONCLUSION

This simple addition to the CCK-augmented hepatobiliary imaging may both detect and quantitate abnormal EGR as the cause of the patient's symptoms in the presence of a normal GBEF result, and/or those patients with risk factors for gastritis.

Evaluation of esophageal bile reflux after total gastrectomy by gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary dual scintigraphy

Conducting the qualitative evaluation of reconstruction methods is difficult because of their complexity. The aim of the present study was to compare esophageal bile and food reflux by performing gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary dual scintigraphy (GHDS) after various methods of reconstruction following total gastrectomy. Of 17 patients studied, 4 had undergone Roux-en-Y anastomoses (R-Y); 6, jejunal pouch-Y anastomoses (P-Y); and 7, jejunal pouch interposition (P-I). GHDS was performed 1 year after surgery using 111In-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid administered orally, and 99mTc-pyridoxyl-5-methyl tryptophan administered intravenously. Imaging data from a gamma camera were stored in and processed by a data analyzer. Three patients who had undergone R-Y and one who had undergone P-I complained of heartburn, while one who had undergone R-Y, two who had undergone P-Y, and three who had undergone P-I complained of a feeling of fullness. Esophageal bile reflux was confirmed by GHDS in four of the patients who had undergone R-Y, one who had undergone P-Y, and four who had undergone P-I. Moreover, GHDS demonstrated food retention in two patients who had undergone R-Y, five who had undergone P-Y, and four who had undergone P-I. Weight loss was closely related to the esophageal reflux of bile or food which can be accurately detected by GHDS. Despite the absence of heartburn, patients diagnosed as having bile reflux by GHDS showed poor recovery of body weight.

[Biliary reflux can be a contributory cause of esophagitis]

In recent years duodenogastric reflux has been recognised as a possible cause of oesophagitis. Alone or in combination, bile salts, trypsin, pepsin, and hydrochloric acid have all been shown to cause oesophagitis. Duodenal content in the oesophagus can be measured by means of a new fibre-optic sensor, Bilitech 2000, a device measuring the occurrence of bilirubin and yielding 24-hour readings from the distal oesophagus. Studies in which the device has been used have shown oesophageal bilirubin to be increased in patients with oesophagitis, especially in the subgroup with such complications as oesophageal stricture or ulceration, or Barrett's oesophagus. The evidence suggests that unsatisfactory response to proton pump inhibitors in reflux patients might be due to an increase in duodenal reflux, and should be treated surgically with fundoplication or biliary diversion. This may also be true of oesophagitis patients with complications, though this remains to be shown in clinical studies.

Enterogastric bile reflux during technetium-99m-sestamibi cardiac imaging

Enterogastric bile reflux (EGBR), a risk factor for both gastritis and esophagitis, is a potentially treatable noncoronary cause for chest pain.

METHODS

To investigate the frequency of EGBR during different 99mTc-sestamibi cardiac imaging, 1405 consecutive 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT myocardial perfusion studies were reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred sixteen of the 1405 patient studies (8.3%) showed EGBR with roughly equal numbers of patients having marked (43 patients), moderate (38 patients) or minimal (35 patients) intensity of abnormal gastric activity. Two examinations showed gastroesophageal reflux of activity. EGBR was less frequent with treadmill stress testing (5.5% patients) than with pharmacologic stress testing using either dipyridamole (11% of patients) or dobutamine (9.2% of patients) (p > 0.005). EGBR also was more frequent in patients over 40 yr of age. Finally, the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and the frequency of established upper gastrointestinal diagnoses correlated strongly with the presence and intensity of EGBR.

CONCLUSION

Clarification of the full clinical significance of EGBR during 99mTc-sestamibi cardiac imaging is a topic for future research. Nonetheless, the imaging finding of EGBR may, in fact, identify a potentially treatable noncoronary cause for chest pain.

A composite score of enterogastric reflux quantitation on 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy

BACKGROUND/AIM

Enterogastric reflux of bile, and duodenal and pancreatic secretions may occur either spontaneously or, more commonly, after gastric surgery. The most reliable method in discriminating symptomatic from asymptomatic postgastric surgery refluxers, and in predicting a good clinical result after surgical diversion in the former group, is the quantitation of reflux by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 28 normal subjects and 143 postgastric surgery patients, the enterogastric reflux (EGR) was demonstrated by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy on 230 occasions. The EGR index was quantitated according to two different formulae: the former one based on the amount of refluxate (percentage of maximal radioactivity of the gastric area over the total abdominal activity--EGR-Im) and the latter one based on the amount and the duration of the time of reflux (CompEGR-Im) and representing the area of the surface below the curve, which was yield by plotting EGR-Im values (obtained every 5 min for one hour) against time.

RESULTS

Although there was a highly significant correlation of values between the two methods (p<0.0000001), the latter one was more reliable in classifying postgastric surgery patients according to the presence of reflux symptoms and the reflux index.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with a CompEGRpIm>770 and postgastric surgery symptoms, at least some of the symptoms can be safely be attributed to enterogastric reflux.

Radiopharmaceuticals and the gastrointestinal tract

A review is presented of the design of radiolabelled test meals for the evaluation of gastrointestinal function, including oesophageal transit, gastro-oesophageal reflux, gastric emptying, enterogastric reflux and transit through the whole bowel. Descriptions of different systems are presented, together with validations of the procedures used. Published methods for assessment of oesophageal transit show a marked degree of consistency, whereas gastric emptying studies employ a wide range of both liquid and solid test meals. Recommendations are made concerning the optimal system for investigation of each part of the gastrointestinal tract, but whichever system is adopted, it is important to employ some validation procedures, and to establish normal ranges in the population under study.

Clinical and radionuclide evaluation of bile diversion by Braun enteroenterostomy: prevention and treatment of alkaline reflux gastritis. An alternative to Roux-en-Y diversion

OBJECTIVE AND SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Symptomatic, medically resistant postgastrectomy patients with alkaline reflux gastritis (ARG) have increased enterogastric reflux (EGR) documented by quantitative radionuclide biliary scanning. Even asymptomatic patients after gastrectomy have increased EGR compared with nonoperated control patients. Roux-en-Y biliary diversion, although successfully treats the clinical syndrome of ARG, has a high incidence of early and late postoperative severe gastroparesis, Roux limb retention (the Roux syndrome), or both, which often requires further remedial surgery. As an alternative to Roux-en-Y diversion, this review evaluates the efficacy of the Braun enteroenterostomy (BEE) in diverting bile away from the stomach in patients having gastric operations. Based on previous pilot studies, the BEE is positioned 30 cm from the gastroenterostomy.

METHODS

Thirty patients had the following operations and were evaluated: standard pancreatoduodenectomy (8), vagotomy and Billroth II (BII) gastrectomy (6), BII gastrectomy only (10), and palliative gastroenterostomy to an intact stomach (6). All anastomoses were antecolic BII with a long afferent limb and a 30-cm BEE. Four symptomatic patients with medically intractable ARG and chronic gastroparesis had subtotal BII gastric resection with BEE rather than Roux-en-Y diversion. Eight control symptomatic patients and six asymptomatic patients with previous BII gastrectomy and no BEE were evaluated. Radionuclide biliary scanning was performed within 30 days in all patients and at 4 to 6 months in 14 patients. Bile reflux was expressed as an EGR index (%).

RESULTS

After operation, 18 of 34 patients (53%) had no demonstrable EGR while in the fasting state for as long as 90 minutes. The range of demonstrable bile reflux (EGR) in the remaining 16 patients was from 2% to 17% (mean, 4.5%). Enterogastric reflux in the 14 control patients (with no BEE) ranged from 5% to 82% (mean, 42%). The four patients with ARG and chronic gastroparesis treated by subtotal gastrectomy and BEE had postoperative EGR of 0%, 2%, 2%, and 4%, respectively. They are asymptomatic with no evidence of bile reflux gastritis. In the 14 patients who had late evaluation, EGR ranged from 0% to 16% (mean, 5.5%). No patient had signs or symptoms of ARG after operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Braun enteroenterostomy successfully diverts a substantial amount of bile from the stomach. The ARG syndrome might be prevented by performing BEE during gastric resection or bypass in a variety of operations. Conversion to a BII with BEE may be an alternative to Roux-en-Y diversion in treating medically resistant ARG and subsequent may avoid the Roux syndrome.

Significant gastric reflux of technetium-99m-MIBI in SPECT myocardial imaging

We present a case in which significant gastric reflux of 99mTc-methoxy isobutylisonitrile (MIBI) was observed in a patient who underwent stress/rest 99mTc-MIBI SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging for suspected coronary artery disease. The intense gastric activity partially obscured myocardial uptake of 99mTc MIBI, particularly in the inferolateral wall of the left ventricle. The presence of significant gastric activity should be considered when performing SPECT myocardial imaging with 99mTc MIBI, and, where necessary, steps should be taken to minimize this activity prior to commencing acquisition.

[The effectiveness of Braun's anastomosis in Billroth II surgery. The role of hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy (HBSS) in the diagnosis of bile flow following stomach resection]

After resection of the stomach the alkaline reflux of the duodenal contents into the residual stomach is a major factor to be taken into consideration when assessing the causes leading to irregularities of the mucosal barrier. Illnesses that may arise subsequent to gastric surgery are gastritis of the resected stomach, inflammation of the anastomosis, anastomotic ulcers and--with reservations--anastomotic carcinoma. In view of these clinical pictures, a protective function for the biliary system is ascribed to Braun's entero-anastomosis. With the aid of hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy (HBSS) a functional analysis was obtained from 30 patients, subsequent to gastric surgery--after Billroth II with entero-anastomosis--which showed a surprisingly high rate of reflux into the residual stomach, in 16 out of these 30 patients. The high-grade HBSS data with regard to the biliary reflux proportions after gastric surgery and the low-grade effectiveness of Braun's entero-anastomosis are clearly evidenced.

Incidence and significance of enterogastric reflux during morphine-augmented cholescintigraphy

One hundred fourteen patients with suspected acute cholecystitis underwent morphine-augmented cholescintigraphy. The 115 studies were reviewed first to determine the incidence of enterogastric reflux under these conditions. Overall, enterogastric reflux was observed in 85/115 (74%), occurring only after intravenous morphine sulfate in the majority (59%, 50/85). Noted prior to morphine in 41% (35/85), the degree of enterogastric reflux increased noticeably directly following drug administration in over half of these cases. Surgical diagnoses were established in 73/114 (64%) patients as follows: 56 (77%) acute cholecystitis, 15 (20%) chronic cholecystitis, and 2 (3%) another entity (normal gallbladder and tumor encasement). These pathologically proven cases were examined more closely to address the diagnostic significance of enterogastric reflux during morphine-augmented cholescintigraphy. Enterogastric reflux was demonstrated in the majority of not only those with acute cholecystitis (48/56, 86%), but also those with chronic cholecystitis (12/15, 80%). A frequent but nonspecific finding, enterogastric reflux appears to be a pathophysiologic phenomenon that may be enhanced synergistically, at least to some degree, in patients requiring morphine-augmented cholescintigraphy.

Gastro-oesophageal and bile reflux--simultaneous quantitative assessment with gastric and gallbladder emptying evaluation: clinical applicability of a new computerized gammagraphic method

The aim of this study was to develop a new computerized gammagraphic method to evaluate gastrooesophageal (GER), bileo-oesophageal (BER) and bileogastric reflux (BGR) simultaneously with gastric and gallbladder emptying: a long duration (60 min) and a dual energy detection (113Inm-sulphur colloid and 99Tcm-HIDA) test of the different refluxes during slow gastric emptying of an enteric feeding liquid meal. Forty patients with oesophagitis and 18 normal volunteers were evaluated. Good reproducibility of all the quantified parameters was found with r Spearman between 0.75 (P < 0.05) and 1.0 (P < 0.001). Patients with oesophagitis have a tendency for slower gastric emptying patterns (gastric emptying T1/2, GT1/2 P < 0.05). The calculated specificity for gallbladder emptying parameters was 77.8% for the gallbladder T1/2 BT1/2) and 94.4% for gallbladder residue at 60 min (BR60). The calculated accuracy for the GER index was 90%. The predictability for positive values was 95%, owing to a 90% sensitivity and 89% specificity. The predictability for negative values was 80%. The mean GER index in oesophagitis was greater than in controls (P < 0.001). The calculated specificity for BGR was 94.4% and reflux was detected in 12 out of 40 patients. The calculated specificity for BER was 83.3% for a '+' index and 94.4% for a '++' BER index. In 14 patients a positive BER index has been determined ('+' in three and '++' in 11 cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Results of stomach resection with Roux gastrojejunostomy for gastroduodenal ulcers]

In a follow-up study operative risk, postoperative functional disorders and incidence of anastomotic (recurrent) ulcer after partial gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy for gastroduodenal ulcer were evaluated in 52 patients. Lethality for elective treatment was 0 and for emergency surgery (ulcer bleeding) 16.7%. 29.5% of the patients reported postoperative functional disorders. Because Roux-en-Y reconstruction prevented duodenogastric reflux, intragastric pH was low (median 2.2) and in the absence of ulcer protective, neutralizing reflux anastomotic ulcer occurred in 15.9% of the patients. With regard to the high rate of recurrent ulcer Roux-en-Y reconstruction after partial gastrectomy for primary ulcer surgery should be avoided and reconstruction procedures preferred, which guarantee duodenogastric reflux.

Intestinal obstruction diagnosed by cholescintigraphy

Radionuclide cholescintigraphy provides useful information about the dynamics of bile flow through the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and intestines. Besides helping to diagnose acute cholecystitis, it may provide other meaningful information to effectively alter the patient's management. Preoperative diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was made on routine cholescintigraphy and was proved subsequently at surgery.

The evaluation of a gastric bile probe

The purpose of this study was to validate a new technique for measuring duodenogastric bile reflux in the human subject. A custom built cadmium telluride gamma detector (Radiation Monitoring Devices, Mass), small enough to be passed into the oesophagus and stomach, was developed and tested for sensitivity to 99Tcm and 75Se radioisotopes. When immersed in radiolabelled water, the detector was capable of measuring gamma radiation in quantities as low as 0.1 microCi (0.0037 MBq) per ml. Two patients (A and B) with endoscopically proven bile reflux, and three normal volunteers (C, D and E) underwent oesophageal manometry to map the position of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS). The gamma probe was passed via the nose, to a position in the gastric fundus, 5 cm below the LOS. Each subject was placed supine under a gamma camera (Siemens LFOV 37 ZLC head), centred on the epigastrium. A 4 mCi (148 MBq) dose of radiolabelled 99Tcm-HIDA was administered intravenously, and simultaneous internal/external scanning was performed for between 45 and 90 min. Internal gamma probe data was transferred by a screened cable to a Memolog 600 portable recorder, using a 5 s counting interval, and from the gamma camera to a Nodecrest Micas III computer, using a 15 s counting interval. Gamma camera counts from a region of interest over the fundus of the stomach were then correlated with counts from the internal probe using a linear regression analysis program on the Nodecrest. The internal gamma probe functioned well at body temperature in the acidic gastric environment. Radiolabelled bile refluxed into the stomach during HIDA scanning in three out of the five subjects (one patient and two normal volunteers). There was a strong correlation between internal and external gamma counts (A, r = +0.79; C, r = +0.53; E, r = +0.54; P greater than 0.01). In the other two cases, there was no bile reflux, but still a significant correlation between internal and external gamma counts (B, r = +0.89; D, r = +0.75; P greater than 0.01). The mean correlation coefficient for the series of five cases was +0.70. We conclude firstly that the newly developed internal gamma detector is capable of measuring the reflux of radiolabelled bile into the human stomach and, secondly, that bile reflux may occur in normal subjects as well as those with upper gastrointestinal pathology.

Standing views to differentiate gallbladder or bile leak from duodenal activity on cholescintigrams

Confusing a gallbladder or bile leak with duodenal activity is a common source of error in the interpretation of cholescintigrams. Techniques such as supplementary oblique views, delayed views, the "water test," dynamic display and combined cholescintigraphy and ultrasound have been used with varying degrees of success. As illustrated in two cases, supplementary standing views provide a simple alternative method to differentiate gallbladder from small bowel activity.

Quantitative imaging in the gastrointestinal tract

Various problems are encountered in measuring gastric emptying, especially relating counts to the volume of meal remaining in the stomach. We have developed a method which has been validated against aspiration of the stomach. In gastric ulcer patients, however, the stomach is large and overlaps the bowel. Results of gastric emptying studies in patients who have had surgery for peptic ulceration show that impaired gastric emptying is related to the extent of vagotomy and pyloric surgery. We have examined the pattern of biliary excretion of iminodiacetic acid derivatives and related enterogastric reflux to the amount of bile in the stomach as determined by aspiration. However the reproducibility is only 75% probably due to day to day variation in its occurrence. The incidence of reflux in control subjects and in those with peptic ulcer is discussed, as is its relationship to the extent of vagotomy and the length of Roux-en-Y loops. Finally the diagnosis of biliary atresia using a similar radiopharmaceutical is described. It has been suggested that a high liver to heart ratio excludes the diagnosis of atresia, but we have failed to confirm this finding.

Reflux sign in cholescintigraphy after administration of a gallbladder contracting agent

This study reviewed 12 patients with the reflux sign in cholescintigraphy to assess its diagnostic usefulness in evaluating biliary passage. The reflux sign was determined by appearance or increase of the radioactivity in peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts after intramuscular injection of 10 micrograms of ceruletide diethylamine (caerulein). Of the 12 patients, there were common bile duct (CBD) stone in four, chronic pancreatitis in two, biliary dyskinesia in two, papillary adenoma of the CBD, dilated CBD, papillitis, and juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum in one each. Cholangiographically, dilated caliber of the CBD more than or equal to 12 mm was found in five and equivocal caliber of 8 to 11 mm was in the remaining seven. Apparent stenosis of the CBD was found in four with dilated CBD. There were two patients who had CBD stone with equivocal caliber of the CBD. The reflux sign seems to be a sensitive finding indicating the presence of biliary dysfunction, and would be helpful for the detection of incomplete obstruction of the CBD or CBD stone, especially in a patient with equivocal caliber of the CBD.

Gallbladder function and fasting enterogastric bile reflux

The relationship between gallbladder function and duodenogastric reflux of bile has been investigated in the fasting phase by 99Tcm-EHIDA biliary scintigraphy in 370 patients with abdominal pain. This isotope is cleared from the blood-pool by hepatocellular function and is excreted into the biliary tract. Obstruction of the common bile duct was found in 79 patients, leaving 291 who were evaluable for duodenogastric bile reflux. Gallblader function was present in 169 and absent in 122 patients. Duodenogastric reflux of bile was observed in 82 patients, 10 of whom had had previous gastric surgery. Only 298 of 169 (17%) patients with a functioning gallbladder showed evidence of enterogastric bile reflux compared to 43 of 122 (35%) with absent gallbladder function (p less than 0.005 by Chi Square). These results suggest that continuous bile flow into the duodenum in the absence of a functioning gallbladder facilitates duodenogastric reflux.

Comparison between Henley jejunal interposition and Roux-en-Y anastomosis as concerns enterogastric biliary reflux levels

The amount of enterogastric biliary reflux was assessed in patients who previously underwent Henley operation (n = 8) or Roux-en-Y biliary diversion (n = 7) using the radiopharmaceutical 99mTechnetium-DISIDA. Two other groups were investigated: a control group consisting of patients with unoperated duodenal ulcer (n = 10) and a group of patients who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy (n = 7). The length of the interposed segment of jejunum ranged from 20 to 30 cm (median of 22.5 cm) in the Henley patients, and from 30 to 60 cm (median of 40 cm) in the Roux-en-Y group. In Henley patients, the percentage of administered 99mTechnetium-DISIDA that was recovered from the stomach (median of 0.92%) was lower (p less than 0.01) than that obtained for Billroth II patients (median of 32.28%) and did not differ (p greater than 0.10) from that of the Roux-en-Y (median of 0.36%) and duodenal ulcer groups (median of 2.53%). These results indicate that Henley operation is as effective as Roux-en-Y diversion in promoting the reduction of the amount of enterogastric biliary reflux that follows Billroth II distal gastrectomy.

[Structure of functional scintigraphic images during the development of gallbladder bile reflux into the intrahepatic ducts]

The authors proposed a method of cholescintigraphy with functional imaging reflecting RP distribution within the entire area in the field of vision of a gamma-chamber detector taking account of the type of motor activity of the gall bladder. This method was based on plotting an activity-time curve along the outer contour of a gall bladder image, the determination of moments of change in gall bladder motor activity on this curve, and the calculation of corresponding gradients of RP accumulation and clearance functions represented on an image where the color of each element was determined by a sign of the gradient and its intensity--by its absolute value. The use of this method in 92 patients made it possible to reveal conditions with possible B-bile reflux into the intrahepatic ducts, and to raise its diagnostic accuracy by 7% as compared to a routine analysis of activity-time curves by decreasing the number of false-negative results.

Disorders of gallbladder function related to duodenogastric reflux in technetium-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy

Controversy exists over the relation between gallbladder dysfunction and the propensity for duodenogastric reflux. To evaluate this, Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary imaging studies in 120 patients were reviewed, excluding patients who had had cholecystectomy or subtotal gastrectomy before scintigraphy. Serial images were obtained at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes and up to 24 hours, if indicated, after intravenous injection of 5-10 mCi of Tc-99m DISIDA. Normally, the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, common bile duct, and bowel are visualized sequentially. Reversal of the normal sequence of gallbladder (GB) and bowel visualization indicates GB dysfunction; nonvisualization of the GB reflects cystic duct obstruction or absent GB function. Duodenogastric reflux is identified by radiotracer localized in the area just below or immediately adjacent to the tip of the left hepatic lobe. The intragastric location of the tracer may be verified by oral administration of 300 uCi of Tc-99m sulfur colloid. Twenty-nine patients had duodenogastric reflux between 10 and 60 minutes after injection. Of the 29 patients, 22 had a nonvisualized gallbladder, four had reversal of appearance of GB and bowel activity, and three had a normal study. GB dysfunction or nonfunction is more frequently demonstrated when duodenogastric reflux is present than with normal gallbladder function (P less than 0.001). In conclusion, gallbladder malfunction is closely associated with duodenogastric reflux, an abnormality that may be diagnosed noninvasively by Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

The significance of gastric bile reflux seen at endoscopy

We evaluated the significance of bile seen in the stomach at the time of endoscopy. Twenty-three percent of 110 consecutive patients undergoing elective panendoscopy were found to have bile in their stomachs. Gastric biopsies were obtained from these patients. To assess the significance of bile reflux, the patients underwent a quantitative gastric bile analysis on two separate days. On day 1, gastric juice was aspirated by nasogastric suction, and bile acid concentrations were measured. On day 2, bile reflux into the stomach was quantitated by scintiscan measurement of gastric nucleotide after intravenous administration of 99mTc-DISIDA. Approximately half the patients with bile reflux showed histologic evidence of mucosal injury. However, fewer than half with histologic injury had significant bile reflux when measured by quantitative methods. There was no correlation among the gastric bile acid concentration, degree of histologic injury, or severity of endoscopic changes. We conclude that finding bile reflux at endoscopy is probably of no clinical significance.

Scintigraphic evaluation of enterogastric reflux using 75Se-HCAT: methodology and first clinical observations

The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of detecting enterogastric reflux (EGR) by 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy. The lowest detectable activity in the gastric area at different concentrations of the radiotracer in the gallbladder was preliminary measured both in a plastic phantom and in an in vivo model. Ten patients were studied after a single oral administration of 1480 KBq 75Se-HCAT. Gamma camera imaging was carried out for five consecutive days during both fasting and after meal ingestion. In our in vivo model an EGR corresponding to 1% of gallbladder content on day one and 8% on day five was detected. In three out of five patients in whom bile was present in the stomach at endoscopy, 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy demonstrated an EGR, while in three out of five patients in whom endoscopy was negative, 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy detected EGR either during fasting or after meal ingestion. As EGR is not constant, 75Se-HCAT may be a useful tracer of bile to detect EGR over a prolonged period of time and in different physiological conditions.

Scintigraphic evaluation of duodenogastric reflux. Problems, pitfalls, and technical review

Bile reflux has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastritis, gastric ulcer, and esophagitis. Radionuclide techniques provide the only non-invasive method to detect duodenogastric reflux. To analyze the problems that occur with attempts at quantitation, 55 patients were prospectively evaluated (45 patients with reflux esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus and ten patients with clinical symptoms of bile reflux, four of whom had Bilroth II surgery) with Tc-99m DISIDA, using a fasting technique with gallbladder stimulation by sincalide. Visual duodenogastric reflux occurred in 16 of 55 patients. Overlap of small bowel with the stomach is the major problem for accurate quantitation and occurred in 20 of 55 patients (36%). Overlap of left lobe of the liver occurred in 40 of 55 patients (73%), but its contribution to gastric activity was slight and could be easily subtracted. Reflux was intermittent in six of the 16 positive studies (38%), and continuous computer acquisition is needed to detect its maximum value. Primarily because of the problem of small bowel overlap, scintigraphic evaluation of duodenogastric reflux is only, at best, semi-quantitative. A review of the technical variables used in this examination, as well as potential problems that can occur, is provided.

Evaluation of gastrointestinal function with isotopic tracers

Nuclear medicine is the application of tracer methodology mainly to clinical diagnosis. We use chemical compounds labelled with radioisotopes as tracers. The examinations provide us with the information on regional function of tissues and organs. In this review we describe the nuclear medicine procedures for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases based on our experiences. The emphasis is put on the evaluation of the functional aspect of the gastrointestinal tract. The procedures to be described include diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum by gastric mucosal scintigraphy, measurement of esophageal, gastric and intestinal transit, detection of portocaval shunt and measurement of lactose absorption and detection of bacterial deconjugation of bile salts by means of breath analysis technique.

Hepatobiliary imaging after Whipple's operation

Hepatobiliary imaging after Whipple's operation provides information regarding the flow of bile. In the case presented there was jejunogastric bile reflux. This demonstrated the incompetence of the side to side jejunojejunostomy, which was surgically recommended to avoid bile reflux to the stomach. Jejunogastric bile reflux explains the patient's complaint of dyspepsia and occasional bilious vomiting in this case.

[Nuclear medicine demonstration of esophageal bile reflux]

Biliary and pancreatic juice has been implicated as a cause of regional inflammation or carcinoma after gastric surgery. We studied 38 patients after gastrectomy using a modification of cholescintigraphy (185 mBq 99m-Tc-DESIDA i.v.). As soon as the tracer had reached the duodenum, a dynamic study (30 min, 120 frames) was started. Thereafter a static image of the epigastrium and thorax in the anterior view with more than 1000 cts/cm2 was recorded. This procedure was repeated after a meal. Of 29 patients without complaints only 4 had a reflux into the jejunal loop. By contrast in 7 of 9 patients with suggestive symptoms this examination demonstrated bile reflux which reached the oesophagus in 6 cases. A stenosis of the distal oesophagus prevented oesophageal reflux in one patient. 2 patients with oesophageal reflux had a history of oesophageal stenosis and oesophagitis confirmed by endoscopy. The remaining 2 patients without demonstrable reflux had neither oesophagitis nor radiologically verified reflux. Cholescintigraphy as modified by us may detect clinical relevant bile reflux into the oesophagus. This is important for surgeons selecting patients with potential benefit from a reoperation. Since most patients with complaints after gastrectomy have had demonstrable bile reflux, reflux-reducing surgical techniques should be used in all.

99mTc-HIDA dynamic scintigraphy for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux of bile

In 5 patients with partial gastric resection and esophagitis, in whom esophageal pH metry was unable to demonstrate significant gastroesophageal reflux (GER), we administered i.v. 5 mCi (185 MBq) of 99mTc-HIDA, the patient lying under a computer-assisted LFOV gamma camera. When gallbladder image was evident, caerulein was administered i.v. at a physiologic dose in order to induce gallbladder contraction, and in the subsequent 45 min the patient was asked to perform a standard series of manoeuvres that increase the intraabdominal pressure (Valsalva, etc.) and favour GER. Scintigraphic images and time/activity curves obtained from areas of interest corresponding to gastric remnant and distal esophagus showed that at least one of these manoeuvres in each case was followed by the appearance of the radiocompound in the distal esophagus, indicating a 99mTc-HIDA-tagged bile GER. Consequently, we believe that HIDA-GER dynamic scintigraphy may be more useful than esophageal pH metry in demonstrating the biliary origin of an esophagitis.

Anatomy of the choledochopancreatic duct junction in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare disease for which the etiology is unknown. Because abnormalities of the choledochopancreatic duct junction (CDPDJ) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of other rare biliary problems such as choledochal cysts and biliary atresia, we reviewed the cholangiographic anatomy of the CDPDJ in our patients with PSC. From 1955 through July 1983, 46 patients with PSC were seen at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center. In 20 of these 46 patients anatomy of the CDPDJ could be evaluated by review of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (11 patients) or by reflux into the pancreatic duct during transhepatic, operative, or postoperative tube cholangiography (nine patients). Roentgenograms were evaluated for the length of common channel of the biliary and pancreatic ducts and the degree of reflux into and anatomic abnormalities of the pancreatic duct. All bile ducts were abnormal, and pancreatic duct reflux occurred in 14 of 42 patients (33%) who underwent transhepatic or tube cholangiography. An abnormally long (greater than 15 mm) common channel was present in two of 20 patients (10%), pancreatic duct reflux of more than 100 mm occurred in six of 14 patients (43%), and pancreatic duct abnormalities were seen in nine of 18 patients (50%). These data suggest that in patients with PSC abnormal pancreatic duct reflux and anatomy are common but variations in the anatomy of the CDPDJ are rare. However, altered function of the CDPDJ may contribute to excessive reflux into and anatomic changes of the pancreatic ducts and the moderate incidence of pancreatitis observed in patients with PSC.

Duodenogastric bile reflux in patients with gastric ulcer

The duodenogastric bile reflux rate in 33 patients with gastric ulcer is compared with the rates in 33 non-ulcer patients. Duodenogastric bile reflux was measured by a non-invasive isotope method using 99mTc-diethyliminodiacetic acid. Reflux occurred significantly oftener in the ulcer patients (27 of 33) than in the non-ulcer patients (14 of 33) (p less than 0.01) but did not differ significantly in quantity between these two groups. The results suggest that the magnitude of bile reflux cannot be used to distinguish between ulcer patients and non-ulcer patients.

Duodenogastroesophageal reflux. Demonstration with Tc-99m DISIDA imaging

Duodenogastroesophageal reflux is demonstrated using cholescintigraphy in a patient with severe esophagitis.