Bronchobiliary fistula detected with hepatobiliary scintigraphy

Clin Nucl Med. 2006 Apr;31(4):237-9. doi: 10.1097/01.rlu.0000204745.99900.b8.

Abstract

Bile leakage into the thoracic cavity is a rare complication of invasive cancer. A 12-year-old boy was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma of the right lobe of the liver invading the diaphragm. An extended right hepatectomy and total resection of the mass was performed, leaving a patchy tumoral invasion at the anterior diaphragmatic surface. Surgery was followed with a combined chemotherapy regimen. In the sixth postoperative month, he was readmitted with bilious expectoration. Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy revealed radiotracer accumulation in the right hemithorax. Bile leakage into the right thoracic cavity was diagnosed based on the hepatobiliary scintigraphic findings. For this patient; hepatobiliary scintigraphy, which is routinely used to visualize the liver and biliary tree, provided a noninvasive mean for the precise diagnosis of a bronchobiliary fistula. The fistula was then confirmed and corrected with surgery. The patient recovered uneventfully.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bile
  • Biliary Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Biliary Fistula / therapy
  • Bronchial Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bronchial Fistula / therapy
  • Child
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sarcoma / surgery
  • Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin