Assessing diffuse liver disease with the hepatic uptake rate of 99Tcm-colloids

SUMMARYThe hepatic uptake rate of sulphur or tin colloid was measured in the fasting state in patients who were later identified as belonging to one of three groupsnormal, parenchymal liver disease or cirrhosis. Subsequent analysis showed a progressive decline in the hepatic uptake rate of tracer as the severity of hepatocellular damage increased. In particular, there was a positive correlation between the impairment of tracer uptake, and Childsʼ class A, B or C in the cirrhotic patients. In addition, a very low hepatic uptake rate of tracer was almost as good (80% accuracy) as Childsʼ class C (83% accuracy) in identifying patients likely to die of hepatocellular problems within a year. When compared with needle biopsies or histology, the uptake rate usually proved equally accurate in indicating the severity of diffuse hepatocellular disease, and on occasions it was a better indicator of long-term outcome.