[Liver scintigraphy. A comparison between scintigraphic and autopsy findings (author's transl)]

Abstract

In 103 cases, liver metastases were found in 40 at autopsy. Of these, 34 could be further evaluated. In 15, the metastases had been demonstrated by scintigraphy. Six patients were not examined because of the rapid course of the disease, and in a further two diffuse metastases in the liver were not recognised. Of the patients in whom metastases had been missed, in eight the deposits were less than 1 cm, in another eight they were between 1 and 2 cm and, in the remaining three patients, they were between 2 and 3 cm. The findings are discussed in detail. False positive or inconclusive findings were obtained in two patients (3.2%). All thirteen cases with cirrhosis of the liver were correctly diagnosed. In four patients abnormalities of the liver parenchyma were incorrectly diagnosed (false positive). Patients with fatty livers were diagnosed equally as normal or as having parenchymal damage.