Assessing diffuse liver disease with the hepatic uptake rate of 99Tcm-colloids

The hepatic uptake rate of sulphur or tin colloid was measured in the fasting state in patients who were later identified as belonging to one of three groups: normal, parenchymal liver disease or cirrhosis. Subsequent analysis showed a progressive decline in the hepatic uptake rate of tracer as the severity of hepatocellular damage increased. In particular, there was a positive correlation between the impairment of tracer uptake, and Childs' class A, B or C in the cirrhotic patients. In addition, a very low hepatic uptake rate of tracer was almost as good (80% accuracy) as Child's class C (83% accuracy) in identifying patients likely to die of hepatocellular problems within a year. When compared with needle biopsies or histology, the uptake rate usually proved equally accurate in indicating the severity of diffuse hepatocellular disease, and on occasions it was a better indicator of long-term outcome.