Determination of the segmental hepatic clearance rate of 99mTc-mebrofenin and its application in the functional assessment of future liver remnant after liver resection

Abstract

99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy with SPECT/CT (HBS-M) has become an important quantitative method to evaluate global liver function and future liver remnant (FLR) function in patients who are candidates for resective liver surgery. The purpose of this work was to describe the method in the prediction of post-surgical liver failure.The overall liver function and that of the FLR are obtained by analysis of the initial dynamic phase of the scan. Liver volume to be preserved is expressed as a percentage of the total liver volume measured in both CT sections.HBS-M is able to accurately gauge regional liver function abnormalities that could be represented as normal liver tissue parenchyma in the CT study. This technique can provide very valuable prognostic information for the estimation of the postoperative risk of liver failure in all patients who are candidates for resective liver surgery.