title: Diagnostic significance of the hepatic parenchymal retention index as determined by hepatobiliary scintigraphy in liver transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the hepatic parenchymal retention index in the early diagnosis of parenchymal complications in liver transplant recipients as determined by hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study reviewed 100 liver transplant recipients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplant. In all cases, hepatobiliary scintigraphy images recorded 7 to 10 days posttransplant were quantitatively reinterpreted according to hepatic parenchymal retention index. The hepatocyte extraction fraction value was also calculated. Scintigraphic findings as well as clinical, laboratory, and biopsy results were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quantitative analysis showed normal hepatocyte extraction fraction value in all subjects. However, significant differences in hepatic parenchymal retention index were observed. Thus, subjects were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n=75), normal; group 2 (n=15), severely elevated; group 3 (n=10), mildly-to-moderately elevated hepatic parenchymal retention index. Evaluation of histopathological, clinical, and laboratory findings showed normal grafts in all group 1 recipients, acute rejection in all group 2 recipients, and hepatocyte damage/intrahepatic cholestasis in all group 3 recipients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these findings, we determined that hepatocyte extraction fraction value was not useful, whereas hepatic parenchymal retention index was beneficial for early and accurate diagnosis of parenchymal complications in liver transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Transplantation, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra Arzu
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gençoğlu
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aktaş
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001706:Biopsy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C034837:technetium Tc 99m mebrofenin; D005998:Glycine