Abstract
99mTc-labeled macroggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) perfusion studies via the hepatic artery and portal vein were carried out in nine patients with histologically proven primary colorectal cancer and metastatic hepatic tumors. Four different radioactive perfusion patterns of hepatic parenchyma, tumor and extrahepatic organs were assessed: high, middle, low and non-radioactiviyt. Hepatic arterial scintigraphy revealed high radioactivity of tumor in 3 of 7 cases, middle and low radioactivity in one case each, and non-radioactivity of tumor perfusion in one case. Portal scintigraphy showed 2 cases of middle radioactivity of tumor, but the remaining 5 cases had non-radioactivity in the hepatic parenchyma compared with the tumor itself. Tumor arteriovenous shunting was demonstrated in 28.6% (2/7) showing localization of radiotracer activity in the lung and intestine, and tumor portovenous shunting was demonstrated, in 14.3% (1/7) by the radioactivity in the lung. The use of 99mTc-MAA infusion studies offers excellent evaluation of tumor perfusions in the intraarterial and intraportal chemotherapy.
