Value of Routine Abdominal Nuclide Angiography as Part of Liver Scan

Abstract

Routine performance of a dynamic study as part of the liver scan results in a significant rate of discovery (19%) of intraabdominal abnormalities such as aortic aneurysms, cystic masses, ischemic intestinal diseases and collateral circulation. The procedure aids in the demonstration of space-occupying hepatic lesions and is often decisive in the diagnosis of chronic liver disease. Alterations in the perfusion of the liver as reflected in the dynamic scan may have a predictive value in the course of alcoholic hepatic disease as to the ultimate development of cirrhosis. Therefore, the dynamic study assumes an important role in the management of the alcoholic patient.