[Intra- and extrahepatic shunts in liver cirrhosis--evaluation by means of combined invasive nuclear medicine methods].

The use of combined invasive nuclear medicine procedures allows the estimation of intra- and extrahepatic shunt volumes in patients with liver cirrhosis. The investigations were carried out after transhepatic portography and injection of 99mTc-MAA into the peripheral portal vein (hilum of the spleen) as well as into the central portal vein (hilum of the liver). A subtraction technique allowed the evaluation of shunt volumes (percentage). In 32 out of 36 patients an extra-hepatic shunt volume of 29.2% (0%-84%) and an intra-hepatic shunt volume of 23.6% (0%-81%) was found. This technique may contribute to improving the results of shunt surgery.