J Korean Radiol Soc.  1985 Oct;21(5):766-771. 10.3348/jkrs.1985.21.5.766.

The significance of the spleen-liver ratio in liver scanning

• Kim CH
• Kim BC
• Lim SI
• Sohn MH
• Kim JS
• Choi KC

• KMID: 2462414
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1985.21.5.766

Abstract

Increased splenic uptake of radiocolloid is a helpful sign in the scintigraphic diagnosis of diffuse hepatocellular diseases, but any attempt has been made to quantify this phsiologic phenomenon. The purpose of thestudy is to evaluate a simple computer quantitation of S/L ratio and to determine normal range and S/L ratios forvarious hepatic diseases. Authors analized S/L ratios of 194 cases of liver scintigraphy from July 1984 to May1985. The results are as follows; 1. The age distribution of normal and various heptic disases was most frequentin 30 to 40 decade. 2. The classification of studied groups were normal subjects (80 cases), hepatitis(30 cases),liver cirrhosis (59 cases), hepatoma(8 cases), metastasis(10 cases), and miscellaneous diseases(7 cases). 3. Thesimple computer quantitation method exhibits small interobserver variation.(r=0.92, p<0.001) 4. The mean S/L ratioin normal group was determined 0.34 (S.D=0.12) with a its range from 0.10 to 0.58 (0.34±2 S.D). The mean S/Lratios in various hepatic diseases were as follows; 0.52 (S.D=0.18) in hepatitis, 1.10 (S.D=0.43) in cirhhosis,0.77 (S.D=0.38) in hepatoma, 0.47 (S.D=0.21) in metastasis, and 0.43(S.D=0.17) in miscellaneous diseases. 5. Theelevated S/L ratios rather than normal values were found in hepatitis (30%), cirrhosis(51%), hepatoma(63%), and metastasis(20%). 6. The sensitivity of single scintigraphic diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was 63%, but thesensitivity was improved to 90% when combined with S/L ratio. 7. The simple computer quantitation of the S/L ratiois a valid and useful method in the interpreation of liver scintigraphy and also may increase the sensitivity inthe diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and hepatoma combined with cirrhosis.

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Classification
Diagnosis
Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver*
Methods
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radionuclide Imaging
Reference Values