title: Hepatic flow scintigraphy in evaluation of hepatic metastases in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of hepatic flow scintigraphy for occult metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study, 2 years of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-nine patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative hepatic flow scintigraphy (3mCi of technetium-99m).
  
  
  METHODS
  Development of hepatic metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatic flow scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 34%. The positive and negative predictive values were 15% and 97%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic flow scintigraphy could therefore be useful in identifying patients who are at low risk of developing metachronous liver metastases and thus avoid unnecessary adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of the primary tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hôpital Tenon, Paris VI University, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huguier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maheswari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houry
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mauban
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mensch
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors