Discordant uptake of Tc-99m DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin and Tc-99m Sn colloid in a patient with severe acute hepatitis.

A patient with recently diagnosed severe acute hepatitis underwent serial liver scintigraphy with Tc-99m Sn colloid and Tc-99m DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin. In initial studies, radionuclide distribution on Tc-99m DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy was completely discrepant to that on Tc-99m Sn colloid scintigraphy. In a follow-up study 1 month later, the distribution of both radionuclides in the liver appeared relatively homogeneous. The uptake of Tc-99m DTPA-galactosyl human serum albumin and Tc-99m Sn colloid reflects the function of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, respectively. Both kinds of scintigraphic study may be helpful to assess histopathologic change of different hepatic tissue architectures.