Thallium-201 per rectal scintigraphy improves prognostic evaluation in alcoholic liver cirrhosis of low and mid severity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work was to assess the contribution of thallium-201 chloride (Tl-201) per rectal scintigraphy in long term prognostic evaluation of alcoholic, cirrhotic patients.


METHODS
The data obtained from 170 biopsy-proven cirrhotic patients have been used in this 4-yr survival study. The severity of the liver disease was assessed by using the classic Child-Turcotte score as modified by Pugh (CTP score).


RESULTS
In patients belonging to CTP class A and CTP class B, the Tl-201 test allowed the identification of subgroups with different survival rates. In these two classes of patients, the Tl-201 per rectal scintigraphy could be used for improving prognostic evaluation. In patients of class C on the other hand, 4-yr survival rates were very low, and the Tl-201 test did not bring significant additional prognostic information.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, we suggest performing the Tl-201 test in cirrhotic patients of classes A and B as defined by the CTP score.
Urbain
D
D
Department of Gastroenterology, Free University of Brussels, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Belgium.
Botembe
N
N
Muls
V
V
Makhoul
E
E
Ham
H R
HR
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes
D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes