INTRAHEPATIC AND EXTRAHEPATIC SHUNTS IN L IVER-CIRRHOSIS - EVALUATIONBY MEANS OF COMBINED INVASIVE NUCLEAR-MEDICINE PROCEDURES

The use of combined invasive nuclear medicine procedures allows the es timation of intra- and extrahepatic shunt volumes in patients with liv er cirrhosis. The investigations were carried out after transhepatic p ortography and injection of Tc-99m-MAA into the peripheral portal vein (hilum of the spleen) as well as into the central portal vein (hilum of the liver). A subtraction technique allowed the evaluation of shunt volumes (percentage). In 32 out of 36 patients an extra-hepatic shunt volume of 29,2% (0%-84%) and an intra-hepatic shunt volume of 23,6% ( 0%-81%) was found. This technique may contribute to improving the resu lts of shunt surgery.