Usefulness of measuring hepatic functional volume using Technetium-99m galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy in bile duct carcinoma: report of two cases

Reliability of indocyanine green retention and clearance rates at 15 minutes calculated by dye-dilution cardiac output flowmetry in comparison to blood sampling in patients undergoing hepatic resection

BACKGROUND

The indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) is a marker of the liver function and is useful for planning hepatectomy. To clarify the ICGR15 and the related clearance value (ICGK) calculated by a dye-dilution cardiac output flowmetry (DCOF), we examined the correlation and clinical significance of the ICGR15 values determined by DCOF and those determined with the conventional blood sampling (BS) procedure.

METHODS

We extracted liver function parameters, including the ICGR15 modified value and ICGK, and the extent of hepatectomy from the clinical and surgical records of 63 patients with various liver diseases in whom the ICGR15 (actual value), R15m (mean), and K (clearance rate per minute) were measured by DCOF.

RESULTS

All the patients were classified as Child-Pugh grade A. Hepatic complications were observed in 10 (16%) patients, but there was no mortality. The mean values of ICGR15 determined by BS (R15-BS) and DCOF (R15-DCOF) were 12.2 ± 8.1% and 11.2 ± 8.7%, respectively. The mean R15m determined by DCOF (R15m-DCOF) was 15.7 ± 10.2%. Significant differences were observed between R15-BS and R15-DCOF (1.1 ± 4.8%; p = 0.002) and R15m-DCOF (4.0 ± 5.9%; p < 0.001). The difference between R15-BS and R15m-DCOF was greater than that between R15-BS and R15-DCOF. Correlation between R15-BS and R15-DCOF was significant r = 0.839 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The ICGR15 measured by DCOF shows comparable reliability and stability to the BS method, which is useful for planning hepatectomy.

99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging for hepatectomy candidates with extremely deteriorated ICG value

PURPOSE

The value of indocyanine green (ICG) test is negatively affected in patients with intrahepatic shunt, ICG excretory defect, or jaundice. This study evaluated ^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging for assessing liver function in patients with severely deteriorated ICG values.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen hepatectomy candidates with ICG retention rates over 40% were retrospectively analyzed. The ICG clearance rate (KICG) and estimated KICG obtained by ^99mTc-GSA scintigraphy (KGSA) were used to evaluate preoperative whole liver function. Remnant liver function was assessed using the remnant (rem) KICG (= KICG × volumetric rate) and remKGSA (= KGSA × functional rate) indices; hepatectomy was considered unsafe for values < 0.05. The correlations of remKICG and remKGSA with postoperative mortality and morbidity were also investigated.

RESULTS

KGSA values were significantly greater than KICG values (median: 0.12 vs. 0.059; p < 0.01); remKGSA values were greater than remKICG values in all patients (median: 0.107 vs. 0.0413; p < 0.01). Hepatectomy was considered unsafe in 70% patients using remKICG, and in none of those using remKGSA; liver failure or postoperative mortality did not occur.

CONCLUSIONS

^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging enables more accurate liver function assessment than the ICG test in patients with severely deteriorated ICG values.

A novel utility of 99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging: detection of inadequate portal vein embolization

PURPOSE

Our aim was to determine the utility of Tc-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon-emission computed tomography (^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT) fusion imaging for detecting incomplete portal vein embolization (PVE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-five candidates underwent PVE. Among them, five underwent second PVE. Detectability of first inadequate PVE using CT and ^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging was analyzed.

RESULTS

Cases of inadequate PVE were detected in three patients using CT and in five using ^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging. Fusion imaging detected two cases of insufficient PVE in which portal branches were apparently well embolized on CT. Median value for volumetric rate in the embolized liver was 63.3% after the first PVE and 54.7% after the second (P < 0.01). Median functional rate value in embolized liver was 60.1% after the first PVE and 49.4% after the second (P < 0.01). Median value for change of volumetric and functional rates in embolized liver after the second PVE was 7.1 and 10.3%, respectively, and change of functional rate was greater than that of volumetric rate (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging was useful for detecting inadequate PVE, and second PVE was effective for increasing volumetric and functional rates.

Liver function assessment using 99mTc-GSA single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT fusion imaging in hilar bile duct cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine the utility of Tc-99m-diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-GSA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT fusion imaging for posthepatectomy remnant liver function assessment in hilar bile duct cancer patients.

METHODS

Thirty hilar bile duct cancer patients who underwent major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection were retrospectively analyzed. Indocyanine green plasma clearance rate (KICG) value and estimated KICG by (99m)Tc-GSA scintigraphy (KGSA) and volumetric and functional rates of future remnant liver by (99m)Tc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging were used to evaluate preoperative whole liver function and posthepatectomy remnant liver function, respectively. Remnant (rem) KICG (= KICG × volumetric rate) and remKGSA (= KGSA × functional rate) were used to predict future remnant liver function; major hepatectomy was considered unsafe for values <0.05. The correlation of remKICG and remKGSA with posthepatectomy mortality and morbidity was determined.

RESULTS

Although remKICG and remKGSA were not significantly different (median value: 0.071 vs 0.075), functional rates of future remnant liver were significantly higher than volumetric rates (median: 0.54 vs 0.46; P < .001). Hepatectomy was considered unsafe in 17% and 0% of patients using remKICG and remKGSA, respectively. Postoperative liver failure and mortality did not occur in the patients for whom hepatectomy was considered unsafe based on remKICG. remKGSA showed a stronger correlation with postoperative prothrombin time activity than remKICG.

CONCLUSION

(99m)Tc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging enables accurate assessment of future remnant liver function and suitability for hepatectomy in hilar bile duct cancer patients.

Stepwise approach to curative surgery using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage and portal vein embolization for severe bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been recently adapted to acute cholecystitis. Major bile duct injury during LC, especially Strasberg-Bismuth classification type E, can be a critical problem sometimes requiring hepatectomy. Safety and definitive treatment without further morbidities, such as posthepatectomy liver failure, is required. Here, we report a case of severe bile duct injury treated with a stepwise approach using ^99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (^99mTc-GSA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT fusion imaging to accurately estimate liver function.

A 52-year-old woman diagnosed with acute cholecystitis underwent LC at another hospital and was transferred to our university hospital for persistent bile leakage on postoperative day 20. She had no jaundice or infection, although an intraperitoneal drainage tube discharged approximately 500 ml of bile per day. Recorded operation procedure showed removal of the gallbladder with a part of the common bile duct due to its misidentification, and each of the hepatic ducts and right hepatic artery was injured. Abdominal enhanced CT revealed obstructive jaundice of the left liver and arterial shunt through the hilar plate to the right liver. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed type E4 or more advanced bile duct injury according to the Bismuth-Strasberg classification. We planned a stepwise approach using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) and portal vein embolization (PVE) for secure right hemihepatectomy and biliary-jejunum reconstruction and employed ^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging to estimate future remnant liver function. The left liver function rate had changed from 26.2 % on admission to 26.3 % after PTCD and 54.5 % after PVE, while the left liver volume rate was 33.8, 33.3, and 49.6 %, respectively. The increase of liver function was higher than that of volume (28.3 vs. 15.8 %). On postoperative day 63, the curative operation, right hemihepatectomy and biliary-jejunum reconstruction, was performed, and posthepatectomy liver failure could be avoided.

Careful consideration of treatment strategy for each case is necessary for severe bile duct injury with arterial injury requiring hepatectomy. The stepwise approach using PTCD and PVE could enable hemihepatectomy, and ^99mTc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging was useful to estimate heterogeneous liver function.

Three-Dimensional Quantitative Evaluation of the Segmental Functional Reserve in the Cirrhotic Liver Using Multi-Modality Imaging

To quantitatively evaluate the regional functional reserve in the cirrhotic liver and to seek related index that reflects diminished segmental liver function. A 3D system for quantitative evaluation of the liver was used to fuse technetium-99m galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography images from 20 patients with cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. A set of parameters reflecting liver function including morphological liver volume, functional liver volume, functional liver density (FLD), and the drug absorption rate constant for hepatic cells (GSA-K) was calculated. Differences in FLD and GSA-K in intrahepatic segments were compared in patients with a tumor embolus (Group Y) and those without such an embolus (Group N) in the right portal vein. Differences in FLD and GSA-K in tumor-bearing (T+ group) and tumor-free (T- group) segments in patients with no tumor embolus (Group N) were also compared. Eleven living donor liver transplantation donor served as the control group. The FLD of the liver as a whole was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis than in the control group (0.53 ± 0.13 vs 0.68 ± 0.10, P = 0.010). The FLD in segments of the right hemiliver was significantly lower than that in segments of the left hemiliver in Group Y (0.31 ± 0.21 vs 0.58 ± 0.12, P = 0.002) but not in Group N (0.60 ± 0.19 vs 0.55 ± 0.13, P = 0.294). FLD was 0.45 ± 0.17 in the T+ group and 0.60 ± 0.08 in the T- group (P = 0.008). Differences in GSA-K in intrahepatic segments were not significant. In the control group, differences in FLD and GSA-K in intrahepatic segments were not significant. The segmental liver functional reserve can be quantitatively calculated. FLD, but not GSA-K, is an index that reflects diminished regional liver function caused by portal flow obstruction or tumor compression.

Functional discrepancy between two liver lobes after hemilobe biliary drainage in patients with jaundice and bile duct cancer: an appraisal using (99m)Tc-GSA SPECT/CT fusion imaging

PURPOSE

To determine the functional discrepancy between the two liver lobes using technetium 99m ((99m)Tc) diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin ( GSA diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin ) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) fusion imaging following preoperative biliary drainage and portal vein embolization ( PVE portal vein embolization ) in patients with jaundice who have bile duct cancer ( BDC bile duct cancer ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Preoperative (99m)Tc- GSA diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin SPECT/CT fusion images from 32 patients with extrahepatic BDC bile duct cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into four groups according to the extent of biliary drainage and presence of a preoperative right PVE portal vein embolization : right lobe drainage group (right drainage), bilateral lobe drainage group (bilateral drainage), left lobe drainage group (left drainage), and left lobe drainage with right PVE portal vein embolization group (left drainage with right PVE portal vein embolization ). Percentage volume and percentage function were measured in each lobe using fusion imaging. The ratio between percentage function and percentage volume (the function-to-volume ratio) was calculated for each lobe, and the results were compared among the four groups. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

The median values for the function-to-volume ratio in the right drainage, bilateral drainage, left drainage, and left drainage with right PVE portal vein embolization group were 1.12, 1.05, 1.02, and 0.81 in the right lobe; and 0.51, 0.88, 0.96, and 1.17 in the left lobe. Significant differences in the function-to-volume ratio were observed among the four groups (right drainage vs bilateral drainage vs left drainage vs left drainage with right PVE portal vein embolization ; with P < .002, P = .023, and P < .002 for the right lobe and P < .001, P = .023, and P < .002 for the left lobe).

CONCLUSION

Hepatic lobar function significantly differs between the two lobes, depending on the extent of biliary drainage and the presence of portal vein embolization.

CT/99mTc-GSA SPECT fusion images demonstrate functional differences between the liver lobes

AIM: To evaluate the functional differences between the 2 liver lobes in non-cirrhotic patients by using computed tomography/^99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (CT/^99mTc-GSA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) fusion images.

METHODS: Between December 2008 and March 2012, 264 non-cirrhotic patients underwent preoperative liver function assessment using CT/^99mTc-GSA SPECT fusion images. Of these, 30 patients, in whom the influence of a tumor on the liver parenchyma was estimated to be negligible, were selected. Specifically, the selected patients were required to meet either of the following criteria: (1) the presence of an extrahepatic tumor; or (2) presence of a single small intrahepatic tumor. These 30 patients were retrospectively analyzed to calculate the percentage volume (%Volume) and the percentage function (%Function) of each lobe. The ratio between the %Function and %Volume (function-to-volume ratio) of each lobe was also calculated, and the ratios were compared between the 2 lobes. Furthermore, the correlations between the function-to-volume ratio and each of 2 liver parameters [lobe volume and diameter ratio of the left portal vein to the right portal vein (LPV-to-RPV diameter ratio)] were investigated.

RESULTS: The median values of %Volume and %Function were 62.6% and 67.1% in the right lobe, with %Function being significantly higher than %Volume (P < 0.01). The median values of %Volume and %Function were 31.0% and 28.7% in the left lobe, with %Function being significantly lower than %Volume (P < 0.01). The function-to-volume ratios of the right lobe (1.04-1.14) were significantly higher than those of the left lobe (0.74-0.99) (P < 0.01). The function-to-volume ratio showed no significant correlation between the lobe volume in either lobe. In contrast, the function-to-volume ratio showed significant correlations with the LPV-to-RPV diameter ratio in both lobes (right lobe: negative correlation, r_s = -0.37, P = 0.048; left lobe: positive correlation, r_s = 0.71, P < 0.001). The function-to-volume ratio in the left lobe tended to be higher, and that in the right lobe tended to be lower, in accordance with the increase in the LPV-to-RPV diameter ratio.

CONCLUSION: CT/^99mTc-GSA SPECT fusion images demonstrated that the function of the left lobe was significantly decreased compared with that of the right lobe in non-cirrhotic livers.

Relationship of hepatic functional parameters with changes of functional liver volume using technetium-99m galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy in patients undergoing preoperative portal vein embolization: a follow-up report

BACKGROUND

To identify predictors of changes in functional hepatic volumes after portal vein embolization (PVE) before hepatectomy, we examined the relationship between hepatic functional parameters and changes in functional volume of the embolized and non-embolized liver based on a previous volumetric analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Subjects were 24 patients who underwent PVE, which was performed through the trans-ileocolic vein (n = 4) or by percutaneous transhepatic puncture (n = 20). The RI liver volume parameter was measured by liver scintigraphy with technetium-(99m) galactosyl human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-GSA). Computed tomography (CT) volume parameter was also measured.

RESULTS

Significant atrophy of the embolized liver and hypertrophy of the non-embolized liver (change of 72 ± 108 cm(3) and 111 ± 91 cm(3), respectively) (change of 7.8%) was observed after PVE. The change in these RI volume parameters (change of 173 ± 175 cm(3) and 145 ± 137 cm(3) , respectively) (16.5%) was significantly greater than CT volume parameters (P < 0.01). CT vol and RI vol in the embolized and non-embolized liver were well correlated (r = 0.75 and 0.69, respectively). However, the correlation between CT and RI volume parameters in the embolized and non-embolized liver after PVE was very weak (r = 0.17 and 0.03, respectively). Only alkaline phosphatase level correlated negatively with atrophic CT volume parameter of the embolized liver (r = -0.455, P < 0.05). When compared with CT volume parameter, more parameters were significantly correlated with changes of RI volume parameter in the embolized liver: pre-PVE pressure; ICGR15; and serum levels of hyaluronate, total bilirubin, albumin, and alkaline phosphatase. Only platelet count was significantly correlated with hypertrophy of the non-embolized liver.

CONCLUSION

RI volume parameter might more accurately reflect functional changes in the embolized liver and non-embolized liver than CT volume parameter. Correlated parameters might allow us to predict the functional effect of PVE.

Usefulness of measuring hepatic functional volume using technetium-99m galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy in hilar bile duct carcinoma

This case involved a 75-year-old woman with obstructive jaundice who was diagnosed with hilar bile duct carcinoma. After endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, the total bilirubin level was normalized. The indocyanine green test retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) was 26%. The liver uptake ratio (LHL15) by technetium-99m galactosyl human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-GSA) liver scintigraphy was 0.87. Left hepatectomy was scheduled by CT volumetry. However, biliary drainage was insufficient, and the functional liver volume showed functional deterioration of the left liver. After percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, future remnant liver volume by (99m)Tc-GSA liver scintigraphy changed to 52% from 42%, and ICGR15 and LHL15 were improved to 16% and 0.914, respectively. Scheduled left hepatectomy was performed following the results of functional liver volume. The measurement of functional volume by (99m)Tc-GSA liver scintigraphy provides useful information with respect to segmental liver function for deciding operative indications.

Correlation of D-xylose absorption rate with portal pressure in rats with portal hypertension

AIM: To evaluate the dynamic changes in D-xylose absorption rate during the progression of portal hypertension to find a noninvasive and practical method to evaluate portal pressure.

METHODS: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 180-220 g, were randomly divided into two groups: normal control group (n = 5) and model group (n = 75). Fifty-five model rats were randomly divided into 11 subgroups (n = 5). The normal control group was given normal drinking water, while the model group was given 0.03% thioacetamide (TAA) for 5 weeks and 0.04% TAA for another 5 weeks. The pathological changes in the liver and portal pressure were monitored until 6 weeks after withdrawal of TAA. The D-xylose content of the urine and portal pressure were determined at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, respectively. The correlation between D-xylose absorption rate and portal pressure was analyzed.

RESULTS: At week 8, apparent fibrous septum hyperplasia, disorganized hepatic lobule architecture, and even pseudolobules were observed. Meanwhile, portal vein pressure and D-xylose absorption rate began to show significant changes. The D-xylose absorption rate is inversely correlated with portal vein pressure (P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient is -0.697, and the linear equation is: y = -0.01x + 0.2791.

CONCLUSION: D-xylose absorption rate can reflect the changes in hepatic portal pressure and can be used to predict portal hypertension pressure and evaluate therapeutic effects in clinical practice.