Sequential liver scintiphotography with Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) was used to prospectively evaluate its uptake patterns in hepatoma. The scintiphotos and timendash;activity curves of 40 cases were analyzed. Two distinct patterns of tumor activity were notedcolon; gradual but complete extraction and trapping of Tc-99m PYP in hepatoma in 38percnt; of the patients (group 1), and absence of subsequent Tc-99m PYP uptake in hepatoma after initial blood pool activity in 62percnt; of the patients (group 2). Since extraction and trapping of Tc-99m PYP occur approximately in two fifths of the patients with hepatoma, we conclude that Tc-99m PYP liver scintigraphy is not worthwhile supplementing the conventional radionuclide studies for diagnosing hepatoma, even in the selected patients in the countries where the prevalence of hepatoma is high.
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