Evaluation of Portal Hypertension Using Splenic Imaging of ^99mTc-GSA Liver Scintigraphy (2nd Report)

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between quantitative evaluations of splenic imaging on ^99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy and portal hypertension. The index of splenic imaging (S3/L3), which represents the count ratio for the spleen to the liver 3 minutes after injecton of the tracer, was estimated in 58 cases of chronic liver disease. Portal hypertension was evaluated by examination of esophagogastric varices and collateral veins. S3/L3 was increased in cases of collateral veins (p=0.063). With regard to collateral flow patterns, S3/L3 was not increased in cases showing descending collaterals only, but was increased in cases showing ascending collaterals. S3/L3 was significantly increased in cases of varices (p=0.018). Endoscopic evaluation of varices did not reveal any correlation between form and red color sign of varices and S3/L3. It is suggested that the level of portal hypertension may be precisely evaluated by quantitative splenic imaging on ^99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy.