Pentavalent Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma

Tc-99m (V)-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) has been used to image various ki nds of tumors. However, from a review of the literature, it has never been applied to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Low uptake of Tc-99m (V)-DMSA ha s been demonstrated in normal liver tissue, thus, Tc-99m (V)-DMSA may be us eful for the detection of HCC. Nine male patients with focal nodular HCC were studied with sequential X-ra y CT, Tc-99m (V)-DMSA and Tc-99m phytate liver scan. Our data showed that e ight patients had increased uptake of Tc-99m (V) DMSA in HCC. Four cases de monstrated higher Tc-99m (V) DMSA uptake in HCC than in adjacent liver, and four cases demonstrated HCC uptake equal to liver uptake. One case showed no uptake of Tc-99m (V) DMSA in HCC, The detection sensitivity of Tc-99m (V )-DMSA was 88.9%. From our early results, Tc-99m (V)-DMSA is a readily avai lable tumor imagine, agent that appears to accumulate in HCC.