Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
An Open-Source Normothermic Perfusion System Designed for Research Scientists
Published on: July 18, 2025
Liver perfusion imaging in patients with primary and metastatic liver malignancy: prospective comparison between
Caecilia S Reiner1, Robert Goetti, Irene A Burger
1Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistr. 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Rationale And Objectives:
To prospectively analyze the correlation between parameters of liver perfusion from technetium99m-macroaggregates of albumin (99mTc-MAA) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with those obtained from dynamic CT perfusion in patients with primary or metastatic liver malignancy.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-five consecutive patients (11 women, 14 men; mean age 60.9 ± 10.8; range: 32-78 years) with primary (n = 5) or metastatic (n = 20) liver malignancy planned to undergo selective internal radiotherapy underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced CT liver perfusion imaging (four-dimensional spiral mode, scan range 14.8 cm, 15 scans, cycle time 3 seconds) and 99m)Tc-MAA SPECT after intraarterial injection of 180 MBq 99mTc-MAA on the same day. Data were evaluated by two blinded and independent readers for the parameters arterial liver perfusion (ALP), portal venous perfusion (PVP), and total liver perfusion (TLP) from CT, and the 99mTc-MAA uptake-ratio of tumors in relation to normal liver parenchyma from SPECT.
Results:
Interreader agreements for quantitative perfusion parameters were high for dynamic CT (r = 0.90-0.98, each P < .01) and 99mTc -MAA SPECT (r = 0.91, P < .01). Significant correlation was found between 99mTc-MAA uptake ratio and ALP (r = 0.7, P < .01) in liver tumors. No significant correlation was found between 99mTc-MAA uptake ratio, PVP (r = -0.381, P = .081), and TLP (r = 0.039, P = .862).
Conclusion:
This study indicates that in patients with primary and metastatic liver malignancy, ALP obtained by dynamic CT liver perfusion significantly correlates with the 99mTc-MAA uptake ratio obtained by SPECT.
