Utility of Tc-99m GSA whole-body scintigraphy in detecting bone metastasesfrom hepatocellular carcinoma

Recent advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have pro longed patient survival, However, the number of patients with bone metastas es identified during follow-up examinations has increased. Tc-99m Sn-N-pyri doxy-5-methyltryptophan (Tc-99m PMT) has been reported to accumulate at a h igh rate in HCC lesions and bone metastases, In the patient described here, whole-body scintigraphy showed accumulation of DTPA galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-99m GSA) and Tc-99m PMT in bone metastases from HCC. The autho rs suggest that asialoglycoprotein receptors may be present in bone metasta ses from well-differentiated HCC, Tc-99m GSA whole-body imaging can be used to detect bone metastases from HCC and to evaluate hepatic reserve.