CT via percutaneous splenoportography: experiment and application

Objective To introduce computed tomography via percutaneous splenoportograp hy (CTSP), a new method for determining hepatic diseases. Methods Ten hybrid dogs and 31 patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC) w ere included in the study. Each dog was examined by CT, computed tomography via arterial portography (CTAP), and CTSP to compare the enhanced density of the liver. The 31 patients were examined by CTSP and the appearanec of P HC was compared with their pathological results to evaluate the diagnostic significance of CTSP. Results The animal experiment showed that both CTAP and CTSP could obviousl y enhance the density of the liver (P < 0.01), but no significant differenc e was observed in the enhanced densities between the two methods (P > 0.05) . On the CTSP images of the 31 patients, the density of the livers was incr eased to 168 - 192 Hu, whereas the density of the cancers was as low as tha t on the images of CT scans ( < 58 Hu). The CTSP findings were consistent w ith the surgical ones from space occupying lesions. The diagnostic value of CTSP was obviously superior to that of general enhanced CT. However, it wa s difficult for CTSP to show nodules less than 1 cm in size located on the surface of the liver or the hepatic portal zone. Conclusions Like CTAP, CTSP is also a sensitive method for showing occupant in the liver. But the equipments and the procedures are simpler for CTSP t han for CTAP. CTSP is an alternative procedure in clinical practice.