Pulmonary Nodules Causing False-positive Liver ScansPreoperative and Postoperative Scintigraphic Findings in Three Cases

摘要

False-positive liver scans may occur due to intrinsic hepatic anatomy, extrinsic impression on the liver from adjacent structures, or external attenuation of gamma rays. However, reports of false-positive scans due to external attenuation by pulmonary nodules are very few, and postoperative changes in liver scintigraphy have not been reported. We experienced three such cases. In each case, a pulmonary mass was located in the right posterior basal segment. The preoperative liver scan showed a focal ldquo;coldrdquo; area in the upper portion of the right lobe. This ldquo;coldrdquo; area was seen only in the posterior view, and after resection of the tumor it usually disappeared promptly unless direct liver invasion was present.