Imaging of the hepatocellular carcinoma using dynamic positron emission tomography with nitrogen-13 ammonia

Dynamic PET using [13N]ammonia was performed in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma). All the tumors started to show remarkable accumulation of radioactivity from a very early period (within 150 sec after the radionuclide injection), whereas the radionuclide was more gradually accumulated in the liver. Central necroses of the tumors were visualized as low radioactivity areas. Daughter nodules of less than 2 cm were also visualized. This dynamic PET study is a valuable technique for the detection of the hepatoma.