Abstract
Radionuclide scanning of the hepatobiliary tree is highly accurate for the detection of patients with acute cholecystitis. Hemobilia, a rare complication of percutaneous liver biopsy, may result in blood clots within the biliary canaliculi. Such clots, like gallstones, may occlude the ducts and produce a clinical syndrome indistinguishable from acute cholecystitis. A patient with acute cholecystitis resulting from hemobilia following percutaneous biopsy of the liver is described. The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis secondary to blood clots was made with technetium99mTc Iprofenin (Pipida [Sn]) scintigraphy. The patient was treated conservatively, and follow-up Pipida scan 6 weeks later demonstrated normal hepatobiliary function.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Szlabick RE, Catto JA, Fink-Bennett D, Ventura V: Hepatobiliary scanning in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.Arch Surg 115:540–544, 1980
Dunphy JE, Way LW: Biliary tract. In:Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment, 2nd ed. Los Altos, California: Lange Medical Publications, 1975
Cox EF: Hemobilia following percutaneous needle biopsy of the liver.Arch Surg 95:198–201, 1967
Berg D: Two complications following needle biopsy of the liver.Pak Surg Gynecol Obstet 12:745–749, 1970
Sandbloom P:Hemobilia (Biliary Tract Hemorrhage): History, Pathology, Diagnosis, Treatment. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas, 1972
Levinson JD, Olsen G, Terman JW, Cleaveland CR, Graham CP, Breen KJ: Hemobilia secondary to percutaneous liver biopsy.Arch Intern Med 130:396–400, 1972
Ball JT, Milton GM, Cohen GM, Burrell M: Hemobilia following percutaneous liver biopsy.Gastroenterology 68:1297–1299, 1975
Attiyeh FF, McSweeney J, Fortner JG: Hemobilia complicating needle liver biopsy.Radiology 118:559–560, 1976
Walter JF, Paase BT, Cannon WG: Successful transcatheter embolic control of massive hemobilia.Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 127:847–849, 1976
Elte PM, van Aken WG, Agenant DMA, Tijtgat GN: Hemobilia after liver biopsy.Arch Intern Med 140:839–840, 1980
Bismuth H: Hemobilia.N Engl J Med 288:617–619, 1973
Sandblom P, Mirkovitch V, Saegesser F: Formations and fate of fibrin clots in the biliary tree.Ann Surg 185:356–366, 1977
Shires GT: Trauma. In:Principles of Surgery. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co, 1969, pp 152–204
Hellekant C: Vascular complications following needle puncture of the liver: clinical angiography.Acta Radiol [Diagn] (Stockh) 17:209–222, 1976
Oshiha S, Hata S, Okamato S: A plasminogen activator in mammalian bile.Jpn J Physiol 19:212–219, 1969
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lewis, J., Varma, V., Tice, H. et al. Hepatobiliary scanning in hemobilia-induced acute cholecystitis. Gastrointest Radiol 7, 169–171 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887633
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887633