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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Novel In Vivo Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging Techniques for Assessing the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Published on: March 24, 2023
Liver function testing with nuclear medicine techniques is coming of age
Roelof J Bennink1, Mark Tulchinsky, Wilmar de Graaf
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.bennink@amc.uva.nl
Seminars in Nuclear Medicine
|February 2, 2012
Summary
A novel nuclear medicine test offers quantitative assessment of liver function, outperforming CT volumetry for predicting outcomes after liver surgery. This advancement aids in managing patients with liver disease and planning surgical interventions.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary system and nuclear medicine imaging.
- Quantitative assessment of organ function.
Background:
- Liver function encompasses metabolic, synthetic, and detoxifying roles, with hepatocyte function crucial for life and disease management.
- Current clinical practice lacks a direct quantitative test for liver function, relying on indirect markers and acute injury indicators.
- Liver failure in critically ill patients indicates a poor prognosis, highlighting the need for accurate functional assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on liver function studies, focusing on nuclear medicine techniques for whole and regional liver assessment.
- To detail the clinical application of a validated nuclear medicine test for predicting remnant liver function after partial hepatectomy.
- To provide guidance for nuclear medicine facilities to implement this test and explore emerging clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on liver function studies, with a focus on nuclear medicine imaging modalities.
- Detailed examination of a specific nuclear medicine test for quantifying hepatocellular function.
- Comparison of the nuclear medicine test with computed tomography (CT) volumetry for predicting outcomes post-hepatectomy.
Main Results:
- The nuclear medicine test was validated for predicting remnant liver function, demonstrating superiority over CT volumetry, especially in patients with comorbidities.
- Early assessment of regional liver function changes after portal vein embolization is feasible with this technology.
- The primary barrier to wider adoption is the lack of dedicated clinical software for calculating liver function parameters.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear medicine offers a quantitative method for assessing liver function, crucial for surgical planning and patient management.
- This test provides valuable prognostic information, particularly for patients undergoing liver resection for malignancy.
- Enabling clinical implementation requires addressing software limitations and exploring further applications.
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