Our objective was to investigate hepatobiliary functions in healthy dogs using 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS): 200 µCi/kg 99mTc-mebrofenin was injected intravenously into 12 healthy adult dogs. One-hour dynamic images and 2, 4 and 24 h static images were obtained. HBS was evaluated for 7 variables. Cardiac washout occurred within 3 min in all dogs. A photophenic area in the region of the gall bladder was seen in 3.03 ± 0.21 min. However, bile ducts were not identified as separate structures in any dogs. Mean Tmax of the liver was 7.95 ± 3.22 min. Initial gall bladder radioactivity was seen 13 ± 1.34 min after radiopharmaceutical injection. Mean hepatic washout time was 44 ± 3.15 min. Small intestinal radioactivity was not detected in the first 60 min, although it was observed within 2-4 h. However, it was not detected in 24 h late static images. In conclusion, 99mTc- mebrofenin HBS is a sensitive, specific and noninvasive diagnostic method with which to evaluate hepatocellulary functions, intrahepatic bile flow and gall bladder status in dogs. It is thought that the data obtained from this study may guide future research.

Our objective was to investigate hepatobiliary functions in healthy dogs using 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS): 200 µCi/kg 99mTc-mebrofenin was injected intravenously into 12 healthy adult dogs. One-hour dynamic images and 2, 4 and 24 h static images were obtained. HBS was evaluated for 7 variables. Cardiac washout occurred within 3 min in all dogs. A photophenic area in the region of the gall bladder was seen in 3.03 ± 0.21 min. However, bile ducts were not identified as separate structures in any dogs. Mean Tmax of the liver was 7.95 ± 3.22 min. Initial gall bladder radioactivity was seen 13 ± 1.34 min after radiopharmaceutical injection. Mean hepatic washout time was 44 ± 3.15 min. Small intestinal radioactivity was not detected in the first 60 min, although it was observed within 2-4 h. However, it was not detected in 24 h late static images. In conclusion, 99mTc- mebrofenin HBS is a sensitive, specific and noninvasive diagnostic method with which to evaluate hepatocellulary functions, intrahepatic bile flow and gall bladder status in dogs. It is thought that the data obtained from this study may guide future research.