Correlation of contrast angiography and histologic pattern with gallium uptake in primary liver-cell carcinoma: noncorrelation with alpha-feto protein. Concise communication.
Seventeen patients with histologically proven primary liver-cell carcinoma were evaluated by a technetium-99m sulfur colloid liver scan as well as with gallium-67 citrate. Twelve of the 17 patients (71%) showed gallium uptake in the tumor. Eleven of the 12 patients (92%) with a moderately or well-differentiated tumor showed increased gallium activity in the abnormality seen on the sulfur colloid scan. The exception in this group was a tumor with a large central area of necrosis. Four of five patients with a poorly differentiated or atypical carcinoma showed absence of gallium activity. Only six of 11 patients with a hypervascular tumor showed a marked increase in gallium uptake. Correlation of gallium with alpha-feto-protein, and with hepatitis antigen A, was poor. We conclude that gallium uptake in primary liver-cell carcinoma will be significant when the tumor shows a moderately to well-differentiated histologic pattern, unless significant necrosis is present. If the blood supply is markedly impaired, gallium uptake is reduced. However, a hypervascular blood supply does not necessarily ensure increased gallium avidity.
D000792:Angiography; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003287:Contrast Media; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013667:Technetium