[Hepatic mean transit time of 99mTc-EHIDA estimated by deconvolution analysis].

Clinical usefulness of mean transit time (MTT) through the liver was evaluated by deconvolution analysis using 99mTc-EHIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy in 82 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases and 18 normal controls. Initial transfer factor was also obtained according to the method of Rutland. Results obtained were as follows. 1) Effect of the age on MTT was not observed in normal controls. 2) MTT in left lobe of normal controls was significantly prolonged compared with that of right lobe (P less than 0.01). This kind of difference was not observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. 3) MTT in patients with obstructive jaundice, chronic liver diseases, liver cirrhosis at decompensative state and primary biliary cirrhosis was significantly prolonged compared with that in normal controls (P less than 0.01). 4) MTT in patients with liver cirrhosis at compensative state showed normal values, although blood clearance rate in those patients was significantly decreased (P less than 0.05). 5) Positive correlation was observed between MTT and values of T-Bil, ALP, LAP, and gamma-GTP. Negative correlation was observed between MTT and value of cholinesterase. 6) Initial transfer factor correlated with blood clearance rate. (r = 0.76, P less than 0.01). 7) Initial transfer factor in left lobe of normal controls was significantly decreased compared with that of right lobe (P less than 0.01). This kind of difference was not observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. 8) Initial transfer factor in patients with liver cirrhosis in both compensative and decompensative states and PBC was significantly decreased compared with that in normal controls. Estimation of MTT and initial transfer factor could be a useful parameters to assess transfer function of the liver.