Role of Tc-99m IDA scintigraphy in the evaluation of hepatobiliary trauma

Each year approximately 52 million Americans are injured, of which 11 million require hospitalization and 110,000 die. This has an associated health care cost of 3 billion dollars. Hepatobiliary injuries have always constituted a significant area of involvement. They have become more easily detectable since the advent of technetium-99m analogs of iminodiacetic acid (IDA). Biliary leakage secondary to other causes, such as inflammation, neoplasm, and iatrogenic factors are also well demonstrated in a safe, simple, and rapid manner with radionuclide imaging. The relatively low patient radiation dose that is associated with these procedures permits follow-up studies when necessary.