Scintigraphic evaluation of portal hypertension in Egyptian patient with chronic liver diseases

ABSTRACT

118 patients with chronic liver diseases were subjected to scintigraphic examination. A computer program connected to the gamma camera was utilized to calculate the portal fraction of the total hepatic blood flow. In this work 93% of patients with abnormal portal fraction showed a colloid shift [P <0.001]. In 12 out of 15 cases [80%], portal fraction was abnormal and endoscopy revealed the presence of varices. Also, 97% of endoscopically evident varices had colloid shift on the scan. Portal vein diameter was normal in 35.5% of patients with abnormal portal fraction and in 76.7% of patients with colloid shift. All patients with dilated portal vein showed a colloid shift on the scan. Results suggested that scintigraphic examination has to be considered as a valuable noninvasive technique for diagnosis of portal hypertension, especially in patients with normal portal vein diameter