Radionuclide imaging and ultrasound in liver/spleen trauma: a prospective comparison.
In a prospective blind study of liver/spleen trauma, 32 consecutive patients were evaluated by radionuclide imaging (99mTc-sulfur colloid) and gray-scale ultrasound. Six patients (19%) had inadequate sonograms due to injuries and pain. Thirteen (41%) were normal, 13 (41%) were abnormal with one technique or the other, and there was a discrepancy in 2 (6%). Of the 13 abnormal patients, 1 had a lacerated spleen, 2 had angiographic confirmation of a subcapsular hematoma, and 10 showed resolution on follow-up. Two patients with left-sided trauma had abnormal radionuclide scans of the liver; sonograms were initially normal in one of them, but subsequent imaging confirmed the abnormality. The authors feel that imaging with 99mTc-sulfur colloid should be the primary screening examination for liver/spleen trauma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D013455:Sulfur; D013667:Technetium; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D013455:Sulfur; D013667:Technetium