Clinical Evaluation of Liver Cirrhosis Patients Using Liver Scintigraphy.
- Author:
Sang Kyun BAE
1
;
Seok Mo LEE
;
Dong Hoon SHIN
;
Sang Uk LEE
;
Choong Han LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Korea. sbae@ns.kosinmed.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tc-99m phytate;
Liver scintigraphy;
Liver cirrhosis
- MeSH:
Bilirubin;
Bone Marrow;
Esophageal and Gastric Varices;
Fibrosis;
Gamma Cameras;
Hepatic Encephalopathy;
Humans;
Hypertrophy;
Injections, Intravenous;
International Normalized Ratio;
Liver Cirrhosis*;
Liver Diseases;
Liver*;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Phytic Acid;
Prothrombin Time;
Radioactivity;
Radionuclide Imaging*;
Serum Albumin;
Spleen;
Ultrasonography
- From:Korean Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
2002;6(2):123-127
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver scintigraphy is a useful tool in evaluating the chronic liver disease, even though it is less sensitive to detect a mass lesion in the liver than ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We evaluate the clinical usefulness of liver scintigraphy in patients with liver cirrhosis by comparing with the clinical and biochemical indices. METHODS: Liver scintigraphy was taken beginning 20 minutes after the intravenous injection of 370 MBq of Tc-99m phytate. Images were obtained in multiple views with a gamma camera (Basicam(R), Siemens). The size of the liver, left lobe enlargement, inhomogeneity of radioactivity, the size of the spleen, the extrahepatic uptake were evaluated on liver scintigraphy. The compared clinical indices were serum albumin level, serum bilirubin level, INR (international normalized ratio) for prothrombin time, the presence of hepatic coma, and esophageal varix. RESULTS: Forty four patients (M:F=24:20) were included. The extrahepatic uptake such as bone marrow and splenic uptake was positively correlated with the level of serum bilirubin and negatively correlated with the level of serum albumin. The size of the spleen, inhomogenous liver uptake, hypertrophy of left lobe was positively correlated with the degree of esophageal varix. The size of the liver was negatively correlated with that of esophageal varix. CONCLUSION: We suggest that scintigraphic findings in liver scintigraphy could be used in the evaluation of patients with liver cirrhosis not only to diagnose cirrhosis but also to know the severity of cirrhosis.
