Radioactive sodium selenite in the differentiation of hepatic lesions.

Selenium-75 selenite and technetium-99m sulphur colloid scans were performed on 38 South African Blacks with intrahepatic space-occupying lesions. Uptake of selenite was demonstrated in the 'cold area' on the sulphur colloid scan in 17 out of 19 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, but in 16 patients with amoebic liver abscess there was no uptake of selenite in the 'cold area'. In 3 patients with secondary involvement in the liver, 2 had positive uptake of selenite in the affected region. 75Se selenite was found to be useful in the differential diagnosis of intrahepatic lesions.