Intra-arterial and intraportal infusion liver scintigraphy using 99mTc-labeled colloid]

Intra-arterial infusion liver scintigraphy was performed in 11 patients with primary or metastatic liver tumor, and intraportal infusion liver scintigraphy was performed in 6 patients for prophylaxis of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. 99mTc-Sn colloid or 99mTc-phytate was administered through the catheter of which tip was placed in the portal vein or the hepatic artery, and then liver image was obtained. When 99mTc-phytate was infused intra-arterially, significant amount of the infused tracer passed through the liver and we could not get sufficient information to assess the distribution of drug administered through the catheter. On the other hand, intraportal infusion liver scintigraphy using 99mTc-Sn colloid or 99mTc-phytate and intra-arterial infusion liver scintigraphy using 99mTc-Sn colloid revealed heterogeneity of liver uptake, tracer uptake in spleen, low uptake area corresponding to the liver tumor and high uptake area around it. The findings will be clinically useful, and these methods are thought to be helpful to confirm the satisfactory drug distribution.