[Clinical usefulness of integrated images of the radionuclide liver angiogram to evaluate diffuse hepatic disease].

New imaging method that was integrated image of radionuclide liver angiogram was proposed. Patients were placed supine beneath gamma camera, so that the liver, spleen, heart, and lung were included in an anterior image. Integrated image was recorded for 100 s, following injection of 111-222 MBq (3-6 mCi) of 99mTc tin-colloid. 595 cases were examined, and classified into 3 groups as follows. Group I: Cases without hepatic dysfunction Group II: Cases with hepatic dysfunction Group III: Liver cirrhosis. Numbers of each group were 208 (35%), 305 (51%), and 82 (14%) respectively. Integrated images were qualitatively determined by macroscopic inspection. Comparing liver intensity and lung intensity, 3 patterns of integrated image were classified. Pattern I: Liver intensity was greater than lung intensity Pattern II: Liver intensity was equal to lung intensity Pattern III: Liver intensity was less than lung intensity Numbers of each pattern were 412 (69%), 125 (21%), and 58 (10%) respectively. Numbers of group III distributed into each pattern were 8 (10%) in pattern I, 29 (35%) in pattern II, and 45 (55%) in pattern III. The correct diagnosis of liver cirrhosis as follows. In a case of choosing pattern III as diagnostic criterion, sensitivity was 55%, and specificity was 97%. The positive predictive value was 78%, and the negative predictive value was 93%. Total accuracy was 92%. This new method seems useful in evaluating diffuse hepatic disease.