[First clinical experiences with scintiphotosplenoportography]

This paper reports on the clinical applicability and efficiency of Scintiphotosplenoportography (SPSP) by means of 99mTc Pertechnetate. This diagnostic process permits obtaining the following data: actual route and patency of the portal vein, localizing of collaterals, as well as information on the actual speed of portal flow. By determining the time of transit of the radionuclid via the collateral pathways into systemic circulation, additional assessments as to the hemodynamic functional importance of these collaterals can be made. This process is of particular value for the speedy assessment of the patency of a surgically effected portocaval shunt in cases of shunt-bleeders. In patients without cirrhosis, a stop in the filling along the course of the portal vein indicates portal thrombosis. In cases of manifest cirrhosis, however, the lack of an SPSP image for the proximal portal vein and the liver itself, merely points to the existence of extensive caudal collaterals. Traumatization as the result of intrasplenal application of a volume of less than 1 ml (of tracer) remains minimal. In contrast with radiological splenoportography this methods entails practically no risks. However, as a result of the restricted field of view and the relatively coarse power of resolution, the quality obtainable by szintiphotosplenoportography is somewhat inferior to that of X-ray splenoportography.