Rose bengal sodium I 131 studies in infants with suspected biliary atresia.

Twenty-eight infants suspected of having biliary atresia were studied with radionuclide imaging and quantitation of liver activity clearance using rose bengal sodium I 131. Scanning the abdomen for the presence or absence of gut radioactivity was a sensitive indicator of complete biliary obstruction. Absence of gut radioactivity correctly predicted biliary atresia in all 11 infants proved to have that diagnosis. Biliary atresia was excluded by the presence of gut radioactivity in 13 of 17 infants with other forms of neonatal juandice. When present, gut activity was identifiable within 24 hours after injection. Serial tests improved specificity. Plotting the rate of clearance of liver activity did not aid diagnosis.