Value of colloid hepatic scintigraphy in the evaluation of the condition of patients with hepatic cirrhosis and the functional status of the liver before and after transplantation

Abstract

The authors provide the results of colloid hepatic scintigraphy and whole body studies, by determining the hepatic and splenic uptake of the radiotracer in 105 patients with hepatic cirrhosis (HC) of different etiology. The results obtained in the groups of patients with varying HC according to the Child-Pugh classification and in the group of 11 healthy volunteers were compared. The results were analyzed in 17 patients prior to and following liver transplantation. In the Child-Pugh B-C groups, the liver showed a tendency to be reduced along with progressive splenic enlargement and radiocolloid redistribution towards the spleen and bone marrow with the most significant differences in the relative splenic and bone marrow uptake of the radiotracer (p < 0.005) and its hepatic capture in percentage of the whole body (p < 0.001). One-six months after surgery, there was a significant improvement of all parameters with obvious regression of the signs of portal hypertension in the patients who had undergone liver transplantation. Colloid hepatic scintigraphy has been shown to be a highly informative technique in assessing liver function in patients with HC; it also permits evaluation of the regression of symptoms of portal hypertension and the functional state of a liver graft in the postoperative period.

Keywords

• colloid hepatic scintigraphy
• 99мtc-technephyte
• colloid distribution in the liver and spleen
• child-pugh classification
• liver transplantation