G I NUCLEAR MEDICINE

LIVER - SPLEEN SCAN

INDICATIONS:

1. Evaluation of size, shape, and position of liver and spleen.
2. Detection of space-occupying lesions: abscesses, cysts, and primary tumors.
3. Evaluation of hepatic metastasis (pre and post-therapy).
4. Evaluation of diffuse hepatic disease such as cirrhosis or hepatitis.
5. Evaluation of patients with suspected liver or spleen rupture or hematoma.
6. Detection of accessory splenic tissue or asplenia.
7. Patients unable to undergo CT or MRI.
8. Diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia.

PATIENT PREPARATION:

No specific preparation required. Avoid presence of barium in the abdomen.

RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL:

6-8 mCi of Tc-99m albumin colloid is given I.V. The liver is the critical organ and receives 2 rad/6 mCi. Whole body dose = 0.12 rad/6 mCi.

SCANNING TIME:

Static images are obtained 15-20 minutes post injection. The study is usually completed in 45 minutes.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

1. If cavernous hemangioma is suspected, the colloid scan should be followed by a Tc-99m-labeled RBC study (ordered as a radionuclide hepatic angiogram).
2. The nuclear medicine physician may follow the conventional Liver/Spleen scan with SPECT imaging for detection of deep lesions. No second injections is required.

RATIONALE:

The uptake of radiocolloid particles in the liver and spleen and bone marrow reflects the distribution of functioning reticuloendothelial cells and the distribution of blood flow to these organs. Uptake patterns make it possible to evaluate whether normal reticuloendothelial tissue has been replaced by abnormal cells. Lesions approximately 1.5 cm in size can be detected in the liver and spleen.