Changes of portal systemic shunting after sclerotherapy and/or partial splenic embolization observed by Tl-201...

Tl-201 per-rectal scintigraphy was performed before and after injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices and/or partial splenic embolization in patients with esophageal varices to observe the changes of portal systemic shunting by these treatments. The changes in the heart-to-liver uptake ratio of Tl-201 after injection sclerotherapy ranged widely from a decrease to an increase with the mean change rate (mean of the absolute value of change rate) +/- 1 SD of 19.0% +/- 19.9%. By partial splenic embolization the heart-to-live uptake ratio was decreased significantly with the mean change rate +/- 1 SD of 26.2% +/- 17.4% (P less than 0.05). This noninvasive and simple method seems to be useful in evaluating pathophysiological changes of portal systemic shunting observed from inferior mesenteric vein blood flow after treatments of portal circulation system.