Liver Scanning and Liver Function Tests

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Abstract
To assess the value, sensitivity, and reliability of radioisotopic hepatic photoscanning, results of 380 liver scans performed on 357 patients were compared with final diagnosis and results of liver function tests on these patients. An attempt was made to determine whether new informaion was obtained or that from conventional methods merely duplicated. Abnormal scans indicating localized disease were highly reliable, with less than 2.5% false positives. Normal scans did not exclude focal disease, but scans were more sensitive than any other method available in its detection. The alkaline phosphatase, almost as sensitive in detection of localized disease, yielded false positives twice as often. Scanning was of limited value in detection of diffuse disease. It was useful in guiding needle biopsy for metastases and in localizing intra- and parahepatic abscesses.