Preoperative assessment of postoperative remnant liver function using hepatobiliary scintigraphy

Hepatic resection is the therapy of choice for malignant and symptomatic benign hepatobiliary tumors. The concept of remnant liver volume (RLV) has been introduced and can be assessed with CT. However, inhomogeneous liver function distribution and a lack of correlation between morphologic hypertrophy and functional recovery fuelled the enthusiasm for functional imaging. The aim of the present study was to assess liver function reserve (LFR) and remnant liver function (RLF) before and after major liver surgery with hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) and to compare scintigraphic results with volumetric CT data and indocyanine-green (ICG) clearance test results. Furthermore, HBS was used to assess functional recovery of liver function, and results were compared with volumetric data.

Fifteen patients with a partial liver resection were included. HBS was performed before, 1 d after, and 3 mo after surgery. ICG clearance and CT were performed before and 3 mo after surgery. Liver function determined with HBS was compared with ICG and volumetric data.

Liver function determination using HBS was highly reproducible. A strong positive association (r = 0.84) was found between LFR determined with HBS and ICG clearance. Little or no association (r = 0.27) was found between CT volumetric analysis and corresponding ICG clearance. A strong positive association (r = 0.95) was found between the RLF determined preoperatively on HBS and the actually measured value postoperatively. A weak positive association (r = 0.61) was found between functional liver regeneration and liver volume regeneration in the 3 mo after partial liver resection.

HBS offers a unique combination of functional liver uptake and excretion with the ability to assess the preoperative LFR and to estimate the RLF preoperatively. Determination of the RLF instead of the RLV might clarify some of the discrepancies observed in the literature between RLV and clinical outcome in patients with an inhomogeneous liver function. Finally, liver function regeneration can be monitored using HBS.