Differentiation of cirrhotic Vs idiopathic portal hypertension using 99mTc-Sn colloid dynamic and static scintigraphy

Thirty-seven cases of portal hypertension with endoscopically proven oesophageal varices underwent liver biopsy to determine the etiology of portal hypertension. Of the total, 19 had cirrhosis and 18 idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). Later all these patients underwent Tc99mSn colloid, static and dynamic scintigraphy of the liver and spleen. Ratios of the area and of the integral and slope of the integral for liver and spleen were calculated to see if any of these ratios can differentiate cirrhotics from IPH. Significant difference (P less than 0.001) was noted in the ratio of the area (L/S) in both patients and controls, but the ratios of the integral and the slope of the integral were not only significantly different (P less than 0.001) in the patients and controls but also in the two groups of patients (cirrhosis and IPH). The sensitivity of this test when compared with the histology was 58% for both cirrhosis and IPH but when compared with clinical diagnosis it was 76% for cirrhosis and 62% for idiopathic group. Therefore by adding the above mentioned test in the routine study of liver scintigraphy in patients with portal hypertension, further differentiation of cirrhotic group can be done from the idiopathic group.