Radioisotope Scanning in Primary Carcinoma of the Liver

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Abstract
In 13 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma, radioisotope scanning of the liver was positive for an intrahepatic mass in 11, suspicious in 1, and negative in 1. On the radioisotope scan primary hepatic carcinoma of the liver appears as a discrete, usually solitary filling defect or "cold" area of absent radioactivity, frequently in the right lobe. The propensity of primary hepatic carcinoma for obstruction of the portal or hepatic veins with consequent splanchnic hypertension correlated well with the demonstration of portal hypertension by radioisotope scanning with colloidal gold 198. In view of the difficulties commonly encountered in establishing the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma, radioisotope scanning of the liver merits more widespread application in patients with liver disease of unknown etiology or with findings suspicious for intra-abdominal carcinoma. Delineation by radioisotope scanning of a nonfunctioning mass within an enlarged liver should raise the possibility of primary hepatic carcinoma, especially if associated with evidence of portal hypertension in a noncirrhotic patient.

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