Abstract

Aims: This retrospective study aimed at determining the prevalence of biliary atresia in children presenting with persistent neonatal jaundice by technetium-99m labelled hepatoimino diacetic acid (99mTc-HIDA) scintigraphy. The results were compared with those from similar studies conducted in Pakistan, South East Asia & internationally. Methods: The study was conducted at Nuclear Medicine Centre, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from June 2010 to December 2012. A total of 80 patients with persistent neonatal jaundice were included in the study with 54 males & 26 females in a ratio of about 2 to 1. Main outcome measure was demonstration of biliary atresia on technetium-99m labelled hepatoiminodiacetic acid (99mTc-HIDA) scan. Results: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of persistent neonatal jaundice were included in the study. The mean age for males and females at presentation was 224 & 122 days respectively. Biliary atresia was diagnosed in 45 patients with 28 being male and 17 female patients respectively. Conclusion: A significant percentage of patients (56.25%) presenting with persistent neonatal jaundice are found to have biliary atresia on scintigraphic evaluation.