Noninvasive imaging assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: focus on liver scintigraphy.
Noninvasive diagnoses of nonalcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) involve the use of serologic markers and imaging methods, such as conventional ultrasonography (US), computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Although these methods are reliable for the noninvasive detection of moderate to severe fatty changes in the liver, they are not reliable for detecting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. New imaging technologies, such as US-based transient elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse and magnetic resonance-based elastography, can reportedly be used to determine the severity of liver fibrosis associated with NASH. In this context, the field of nuclear medicine through liver scintigraphy has recently been proposed, and is being explored for use in the diagnosis of NASH. More importantly, nuclear medicine may contribute to the distinction between simple steatosis and NASH. For example, the enhanced release of cytokines and the decrease in the phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of NASH. Removal of technetium-99m colloid from circulation by Kupffer cell phagocytosis therefore provides a valuable imaging technique. Thus, nuclear medicine is poised to provide useful tools for the evaluation of patients with NAFLD. However, the evidence is still scarce, and more studies with larger samples are needed to identify their role before they are used in clinical practice.
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Cristiane Valle
CV
Tovo
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Angelo Zambam
AZ
de Mattos
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Gabriela Perdomo
GP
Coral
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Fernanda Schild
FS
Branco
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Eiji
E
Suwa
Cristiane Valle Tovo, Angelo Zambam de Mattos, Gabriela Perdomo Coral, Fernanda Schild Branco, Eiji Suwa, Angelo Alves de Mattos, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90430-080, Brazil.
Angelo Alves
AA
de Mattos
D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
Liver fibrosis; Liver scintigraphy; Nonalcoholic fatty-liver disease diagnosis; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Noninvasive methods