Distinction between hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia and malignant liver lesions using technetium-99m-galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin.
Distinction between hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and malignant liver lesions is essential because of the different therapy strategies, since FNH can be managed conservatively. The aim of this study was to describe the imaging pattern of FNH using the hepatocyte receptor ligand 99mTc-galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin 99mTc-NGA) and to assess the value of this receptor imaging agent in the differentiation of FNH from malignant liver lesions.


METHODS
Twelve consecutive patients with histologically confirmed FNH were investigated. The FNH-lesions were asymptomatic and incidentally found by ultrasonography. Nine patients with histologically verified hepatocellular carcinomas and three patients with liver metastases spread from gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas served as controls.


RESULTS
All FNH lesions showed normal or even increased uptake of 99mTc-NGA. Whereas malignant liver lesion-to-normal liver ratios amounted to 0.4 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- s.d.), FNH lesion-to-normal liver ratios were 1.7 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- s.d.).


CONCLUSIONS
The receptor imaging agent 99mTc-NGA with concurrent use of SPECT is useful in the differential diagnosis of FNH and malignant hepatic tumors.
Kurtaran
A
A
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria.
Müller
C
C
Novacek
G
G
Kaserer
K
K
Mentes
M
M
Raderer
M
M
Pidlich
J
J
Eibenberger
K
K
Angelberger
P
P
Virgolini
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012709:Serum Albumin; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D000418:Albumins; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012709:Serum Albumin; C036586:technetium Tc 99m neogalactoalbumin