Hepatic scintiangiographic patterns

Additional information can be obtained by imaging the liver repeatedly during the first 2 min after iv injection of a bolus of ⁹⁹m Tc sulfur colloid. This study is referred to as hepatic scintiangiography and depicts arterial and venous blood flow in the liver in a manner analogous to contrast angiography. In normal patients, radioactivity within the hepatic bed is greatly reduced during the arterial phase and increased during the venous phase. In patients with hepatic neoplasms, arterialization or 'tumor stain' is seen at the site of the lesion. The scintiangiogram is normal in fatty metamorphosis but reveals diffuse arterialization in cirrhosis. Patients with amoebic abscess, cyst, or hematoma demonstrate decreased blood flow at the site of the lesion.