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Title: A noninvasive method for evaluating portal circulation by administration of Tl-201 per rectum

Journal Article · · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6437199

A new method for evaluating portal systemic circulation by administration of Tl-201 per rectum was performed in 13 control subjects and in 65 patients with various liver diseases. In normal controls, the liver was visualized on the 0-5-min image whereas the images of other organs such as the heart, spleen, and lungs were very poor. In patients with liver cirrhosis associated with portal-systemic shunt, and in many other patients with hepatocellular damage, the liver was not so clearly visualized, whereas radioactivity in other organs, especially the heart, became evident. The heart-to-liver uptake ratio at 20 min after administration (H/L ratio) was significantly higher in liver cirrhosis than in normals and patients with chronic hepatitis (p<0.001). The patients with esophageal varices showed a significantly higher H/L ratio compared with that in cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices (p<0.001). The H/L ratio also showed a significant difference (p<0.01) between Stage 1 and Stage 3 esophageal varices. Since there were many other patients with hepatocellular damage who had high H/L ratios similar to those in liver cirrhosis, the effect that hepatocellular damage has on the liver uptake of T1-201 is also considered. Our present data suggest that this noninvasive method seems to be useful in evaluating portal-to-systemic shunting.

Research Organization:
Kanazawa Univ., Japan
OSTI ID:
6437199
Journal Information:
J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 23:11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English