Receptor measurements via Tc-GSA kinetic modeling are proportional to functional hepatocellular mass.
Kinetic modeling of 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) measures the total amount of asialoglycoprotein receptor within a subject's liver. This study tested the hypothesis that the amount of asialoglycoprotein receptor measured by Tc-GSA modeling provides a valid index of functional liver mass.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with cirrhosis, 18 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 9 patients with normal liver parenchyma were studied with Tc-GSA using a 30-min dynamic imaging protocol. The total amount of hepatic receptor was measured by kinetic modeling of the Tc-GSA time-activity data. The total number of viable hepatocytes was calculated using standard morphometric measurements of liver biopsy samples and liver volume measurements through CT.


RESULTS
The total receptor amount strongly correlated with the total hepatocyte number (r = 0.803; P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Tc-GSA measurement of the total receptor amount is proportional to the number of viable hepatocytes and therefore provides a valid assessment of functional liver mass.
Miki
K
K
Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kubota
K
K
Inoue
Y
Y
Vera
D R
DR
Makuuchi
M
M
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C070561:technetium Tc 99m DTPA-galactosyl-human serum albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate