title: Liver function tests in patients with computed tomography demonstrated hepatic metastases.
abstract: One hundred patients with computed tomographic (CT) evidence of liver metastases (and confirmation by biopsy or progression of disease) had serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase measured within two weeks of scanning. All three enzymes were within the normal range in 33% of patients. Even with advanced involvement (defined as three or more metastatic lesions over 3 cm in diameter), 20% of patients had normal levels of all three liver enzymes. Although liver function tests (LFTs) (enzyme levels) are inexpensive and simple to perform, they failed to detect a significant number of patients with liver metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Providence Hospital, Southfield, Michigan 48037.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ottmar
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Leithauser
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase