title: Thallium-201 per rectal scintigraphy improves prognostic evaluation in alcoholic liver cirrhosis of low and mid severity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Free University of Brussels, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urbain
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Botembe
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muls
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makhoul
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ham
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes