[Significance of lung perfusion scanning with technetium labeled macroaggregated albumin and pulmonary function assay for diagnosis of early hepatopulmonary syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the values of pulmonary function assay and dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging with technetium labeled macroaggregated albumin ((99m)TcMAA) in the early diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS).


METHODS
The pulmonary function assay and (99m)TcMAA scans were performed in 28 patients with HPS, 30 cirrhotic patients (CP) without HPS, and 21 healthy controls (HC).


RESULTS
In the patients with HPS, PaO(2), SaO(2) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of lungs (DLco) was significantly lower than that in CP (P<0.01) and HC (P<0.01), and alveolar-arterial gradient [P((A-a))O(2)] was significantly increased (P<0.001). Results from (99m)TcMAA scans showed that the radionuclides were distributed over the spleen, kidney, liver and brain, and the ratios of arterivenous shunt were significantly higher than that in CP (P<0.001) and NC (P<0.001). In cirrhotic patients, DLco significantly decreased (P<0.05), P((A-a))O(2) and shunt ratios increased (P<0.01 and 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary function assay and dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging with (99m)TcMAA are sensitive methods for diagnosis of the early HPS.
Zhang
H
H
Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Xijing Hospital, the 4th Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Bai
C
C
Wang
J
J
Han
G
G
Guo
X
X
Zhou
X
X
Wu
K
K
Ding
J
J
Fan
D
D
D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen; D055420:Perfusion Imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D010100:Oxygen