J Korean Radiol Soc.
1993 Jun;29(3):561-567.
Diffferential diagnosis of persistent neonatal jaundice: Role of sonography and scintigraphy
Abstract
- The most common causes of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia after the first or second week of life are neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia. Since these entities represent variable expressions of same pathologic process and have similar clinical, biochemical, and histologic features, differential diagnosis is extremely difficult. We prospectively studied 28 jaundiced infants by sonography and hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Final diagnoses included 12 biliary atresia and 16 neonatal hepatitis. Visualization of a normal-sized common bile duct or gallbladder was compatible with the diagnosis of neonatal hepatitis. Non-visualized or atrophic gallbladder no sonography coupled with non-visualization of bowel activity on scintigraphy was highly suggestive of biliary atresia. We believe that sonography plays valuable role in the initial evaluation of the infants with persistent neonatal jaundice. The combined use of sonography and hepatobiliary scintigraphy provides the most valuable in formation in suspected biliary atresia for prompt surgical treatment.
