Sir,
I read the recent publication on ‘Tc99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy in differentiating non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) from cirrhosis liver’ with great interest.[1] Chakraborty et al., concluded that “Tc99m sulfur colloid liver scan is a non-invasive procedure having a useful adjunctive role in clinical differentiation of cirrhosis from NCPF.”[1] Based on the findings, I agree with the authors. However, I would like to share some facts on technetium-99m (Tc99m). The problem with some conditions that mimic the results of Tc99m is reported.[2] The complementary use of chest X-ray is suggested.[3] Although this is not a common case, it should be noted and kept in mind.
REFERENCES
- 1.Chakraborty D, Sunil HV, Mittal BR, Bhattacharya A, Singh B, Chawla Y. Role of Tc99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy in differentiating non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis from cirrhosis liver. Indian J Nucl Med. 2010;25:139–42. doi: 10.4103/0972-3919.78247. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Duong RB, Nishiyama H, Volarich DT, Hanslits ML. Hydronephrosis mimicking metastatic disease on a Tc-99m sulfur colloid liver/spleen scan. Clin Nucl Med. 1983;8:225–6. doi: 10.1097/00003072-198305000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Vesely JJ, Bekerman C, Pinsky S. Complementary role of chest roentgenogram in interpretation of Tc-99m sulfur colloid liver scan. Clin Nucl Med. 1984;9:460–2. doi: 10.1097/00003072-198408000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]