title: Intra-hepatic percutaneous deposition of radioactive xenon (133Xe) as a means of measuring hepatic blood flow.
abstract: Percutaneous deposition of radioactive xenon in the hepatic parenchyma is suggested as a technique for estimating the hepatic blood flow. The authors applied this procedure, which can be repeated at very short intervals, twice in 5 patients suffering from schistosomiasis, and in 6 controls. The percentage of deviation from the mean was calculated by means of two measurements performed in each individual, and was less than 10% in 63.6% of the cases. Higher variations up to 30% can be attributed either to irregular liver perfusion or to oscillations due to emotional distress of the waking subject. The mean value obtained in normal control subjects was 46.7 ml/min per 100 g liver weight. No significant difference was seen between the mean values obtained in patients suffering from schistosomiasis and in the controls. The use of inert gases presents considerable advantages such as rapid diffusion and immediate elimination. However, the varying degree of fatty degeneration with its corresponding changes in the distribution coefficient between gas and tissue, restricts the use of this method in hepatic disorders.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes