Liver/pleural cavity scan for diagnosis of subphrenic abscess

The interpretation of a combined liver/lung scan can be difficult in patients with pleural or pulmonary disease. A procedure is suggested to circumvent these difficulties by injecting 99mTc-sulfur colloid into the pleural cavity. A scan of the pleural cavity can then replace the lung scan in the conventional liver/lung scan. Two examples of liver/pleural cavity scans are shown.