DOPPLER INDEX PERFUSION IN THE DETECTION OF HEPATIC METASTASES SECONDARY TO GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

BACKGROUND: The early detection of liver metastases in patients with g astric carcinoma is important for determining the appropriate therapy; however conventional imaging techniques are limited for detecting ''o ccult'' liver metastases. Previous studies have shown that the measure ment of the Doppler perfusion index (DPI)-ratio of hepatic arterial to total liver blood flow-can detect the presence of even small hepatic tumors. In this study, we compared the measurement of DPI with compute d tomography (CT) for detecting gastric liver metastases. METHODS: At presentation, 43 patients with gastric carcinoma underwent CT scanning of the liver and after 12 hours of fasting, DPI measurement was carri ed out using Doppler sonography. RESULTS: Both techniques detected ove rt liver metastases in 9 of the 43 patients. Of the 34 remaining patie nts with an apparently disease-free liver on the basis of CT, laparoto my, or laparoscopy, 14 subsequently develop liver metastases over a fo llow-up period of 4 years, 13 of which had been predicted by DPI at th e time of presentation. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the measurem ent of the DPI is more sensitive than a CT scan for detecting fiver me tastases secondary to gastric carcinoma. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.