Enhanced detection of metastatic liver disease by computerized flow scintigrams: concise communication.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method by which the sensitivity of radionuclide liver imaging for the detection of hepatic metastasis could be enhanced. Routine flow studies were performed before imaging by injecting the usual 2-3 mCl dose of Tc-99m sulfur colloid as a bolus and storing 30 2-sec images in a computer. With regions selected by light pen, curves were generated from the right lobe of the liver, the right kidney, and the descending aorta. The peak of the kidney curve was chosen as a marker to separate the arterial and venous phases on the liver curve. The average slopes of four points on the liver curve before this marker, and four after, were calculated and the ratio of the first slope to that of the second was defined as the arterialization index. In this study with 228 patients, the inclusion of this index raised the sensitivity from 85 to 100%.