Fundamental and clinical studies on fluorescence laparoscopy after intravenous injection of fluorescein-sodium.

In rats with experimental liver injuries and humans with various liver diseases, fluorescence from the liver surface after intravenous injection of 10% fluorescein-sodium was investigated. Our improved fluorescence laparoscopy allowed clear fluorescent images. In normal rats and in cases of nonspecific reactive hepatitis, fluorescence was first found in the portal area of the liver surface; it was then observed spreading into the lobules towards the central veins. In damaged livers of both rats and human, bright fluorescence was observed in arterioles, necrotic foci, and fibrotic areas on the liver surface. The patterns of fluorescence which appeared in the early phase after intravenous injection of fluorescein-sodium seemed to reflect the shapes and distribution patterns of the portal areas. These results suggest that observations with improved fluorescence laparoscopy are useful for diagnoses of liver diseases.