Thallium-201 Per Rectal Scintigraphy Improves Prognostic Evaluation in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis of Low and Mid Severity |
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| Authors: | Daniel Urbain M.D. Nicole Botembe M.D. Vinciane Muls M.D. Elie Makhoul M.D. Hamphrey R. Ham M.D. |
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| Affiliation: | Departments of Gastroenterology and Nuclear Medicine, Free University of Brussels. Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess the contribution of thallium-201 chloride (TI-201) per rectal scintigraphy in long term prognostic evaluation of alcoholic, cirrhotic patients. Methods: The data obtained from 170 biopsy-proven cirrhotic patients have been used in this 4-yr survival study. The severity of the liver disease was assessed by using the classic Child-Turcotte score as modified by Pugh (CTP score). Results: In patients belonging to CTP class A and CTP class B, the TI-201 test allowed the identification of subgroups with different survival rates. In these two classes of patients, the TI-201 per rectal scintigraphy could be used for improving prognostic evaluation. In patients of class C on the other hand, 4-yr survival rales were very low, and the TI-201 test did not bring significant additional prognostic information. Conclusions: Therefore, we suggest performing the TI-201 test in cirrhotic patients of classes A and B as defined by the CTP score. |
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