[Diagnostic value of heart-liver nuclein ratio in cirrhotic portal hypertension].

A new method for evaluating portal systemic collaterals with administering 99mTc-MIBI per rectum was described in 80 cases. The heart to liver uptake ratio (H/L) in 15 healthy subjects was 0.267 +/- 0.1, slightly increased (0.455 +/- 0.13) in 8 patients with viral hepatitis and significantly increased in 68 cirrhotics. There was a good correlation between H/L ratio and the Child-Pugh classification with the ratio in Child A group of 0.57 +/- 0.12, in Child B group of 1.0 +/- 0.19, and in Child C group of 1.19 +/- 0.25 respectively (P < 0.01). For the diagnosis of portal hypertension, tentatively taking the ratio of > or = 0.62 as positive the sensitivity was 96%, specificity 89%, and accuracy 94%. The authors believe that 99mTc-MIBI imaging is a noninvasive method very useful in evaluating porta-systemic shunts.