The analysis of Tc-99m RBCs time activity curve on liver tumor

Angiography-pool imaging with Tc-99m RBCs was performed in each of 18 patients with hemangioma (HA) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who was diagnosed by surgery and comprehensive radiography. Early angiography and delayed pool images were acquired for dynamic study in tumorous areas. To determine numerically activity changes in the tumorous area, a real uptake slope in the tumorous area was obtained by reducing the approximate linear slope of the non-tumorous area from that in the tumorous area. A real slope of the tumorous area showed a value of (+) in 14 HA patients; and a value of (-) in 16 HCC patients. Differentiating HA from HCC was impossible on both angiography and pool images in 5 HA patients and 13 HCC patients. Four of the 5 HA patients and 11 of the 13 HCC patients could be differentiated, when using a real slope of the tumorous area. A real slope of the tumorous area, obtained from time activity curve, may be of great diagnostic significance. (N.K.)