Evaluation of the portal circulation by per-rectal portal scintigraphy with in vivo labeled sup(99m)Tc-RBC

Changes in the portal circulation in liver disease were studied by per-rectal portal scintigraphy using in vivo labeled sup(99m)Tc-RBC. With regard to the order of images of the liver and the heart appearing on the scintigram after infusion of tracer and to the liver-to-heart ratio in early slope calculated from the time-activity curve obtained from the regions of interest of the liver and heart, result almost the same as those conventionally reported were obtained. It was revealed, in addition, that the present method made it possible to outline clearly the extrahepatic varix demonstrated by angiography of the abdomen as a site of high accumulation of tracer (hot spot) on the scintigram. This method using sup(99m)TcO4- as alabel for the red blood cells reflects the rate of absorption from the intestinal tract by suppressing the migration of tracer outside the blood vessels. The T 1/2 obtained from the time-activity curve of the region of the heart was used as an index of absorption of sup(99m)TcO4-. The T 1/2 of control group, the chronic active hepatitis group and the liver cirrhosis group were 245+-98 sec, 421+-96 sec and 542+-225 sec, respectivery. Suggesting that T 1/2 of both affected groups were si gnificantly longer than that of control group. Finally, this method was effective for evaluating changes in the portal circulation in liver disease. (author)