Diagnosis of atretic prolonged obstructive jaundice; technetium 99m hepatolite excretion study.

Since 1982 we have developed a diagnostic method for differentiation between atretic prolonged obstructive jaundice (biliary atresia) and nonatretic prolonged obstructive jaundice in a neonate. The first report was presented at the Fukuoka Meeting in 1983. Analysis of duodenal juice (excretion test of intravenous injected hepatolite into the duodenum) has proved to be extremely reliable to differentiate biliary atresia from nonatretic prolonged obstructive jaundice. The major diagnostic features of the study are (1) biliary tract to bowel transit of radiotracer, and (2) observation on color of duodenal juice. Diagnostic accuracy was 98.4%. It is time-saving, requiring only 6 hours, noninvasive, and simple.