133Xe uptake by fatty livers

Of 19 studies on 15 patients with morbid obesity and fatty infiltration of the liver, 16 had increased uptake and retention of 133Xe in the liver following 5-minute rebreathing of 133Xe and oxygen. This observation shows a high correlation with the histologically proven presence of fat in the hepatocytes, and offers a simple, accurate and precise indication of the excess fat in the liver.