Poor detection of a hepatoma with a hepatic specific contrast agent (EOE 13)

A hepatic specific contrast agent was used in an attempt to detect a biopsy-proven hepatoma. This lesion had been missed by routine computed tomography and was poorly detected with the hepatic specific contrast agent EOE 13. It was also poorly detected by technetium-sulfur colloid hepatic scintigraphy. The true extent of the disease was noted only by hepatic angiography. Possible reasons for the poor performance of the hepatic specific agent are discussed.