Hepatobiliary scintigraphy may improve radioembolization treatment planning in HCC patients

Manon N G J A Braat, Hugo W de Jong, Beatrijs A Seinstra, Mike V Scholten, Maurice A A J van den Bosch, Marnix G E H Lam

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Routine work-up for transarterial radioembolization, based on clinical and laboratory parameters, sometimes fails, resulting in severe hepatotoxicity in up to 5% of patients. Quantitative assessment of the pretreatment liver function and its segmental distribution, using hepatobiliary scintigraphy may improve patient selection and treatment planning. A case series will be presented to illustrate the potential of this technique. Hepatocellular carcinoma patients with cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A and B) underwent hepatobiliary scintigraphy pre- and 3 months post-radioembolization as part of a prospective study protocol, which was prematurely terminated because of limited accrual. Included patients were analysed together with their clinical, laboratory and treatment data.

RESULTS: Pretreatment-corrected (99m)Tc-mebrofenin liver uptake rates were marginal (1.8-3.0%/min/m(2)), despite acceptable clinical and laboratory parameters. Posttreatment liver functions seriously declined (corrected (99m)Tc-mebrofenin liver uptake rates: 0.6-2.4%/min/m(2)), resulting in lethal radioembolization-induced liver disease in two out of three patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Hepatobiliary scintigraphy may be of added value during work-up for radioembolization, to estimate liver function reserve and its segmental distribution, especially in patients with underlying cirrhosis, for whom analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters may not be sufficient.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2
JournalEJNMMI physics
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
  • Hepatotoxicity
  • Radioembolization
  • Yttrium-90

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