European Journal of Nuclear Medicine

, Volume 6, Issue 12, pp 545–549 | Cite as

Heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in humans

  • Toru Kashiwagi
  • Kazufumi Kimura
  • Toshihiko Suematsu
  • Motoaki Schichiri
  • Takenobu Kamada
  • Hiroshi Abe
Article
Received:

Abstract

Color-functional imaging of intrahepatic blood flow was developed using the 133Xe clearance method and a gamma camera with a computer system. During the 2 min after intrasplenic injection of 133Xe in saline solution, 24 sequential gamma images were obtained. After setting the hepatic region, 133Xe clearance curves were extracted from the serial images every 6x6 mm element and regional blood flow for each element was calculated. The calculated regional hepatic blood flow values were displayed as color images in eight color steps. Eleven patients with and without liver diseases were studied. In all the patients studied, heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was clearly demonstrated by the functional image of regional hepatic blood flow. Although a consistent pattern of intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was not obtained, greater-flow regions were frequently observed in the right lobe. Repeat studies in two patients demonstrated that the intrahepatic distribution of blood flow varied. The 10–15 s scintiphotosplenoportograms also showed the existence of restricted or preferential intrahepatic distribution of splenic flow. These results strongly suggest that intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in the human liver is heterogenous and variable.

Keywords

Blood Flow Liver Disease Gamma Camera Serial Image Regional Blood Flow 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Aune S (1972) Local blood flow and distribution of blood in pig liver, assessed by hydrogen polarography (Abstr.). Microvasc Res 4:463–464Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Conn HL (1961) Equilibrium distribution of radioxenon in tissue: Xenon-hemoglobin association curve. J Appl Physiol 16:1065–1070Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Daniel PM, Prichard MML (1951) Variations in the circulation of the portal blood within the liver. J Physiol 114:521–537Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Darle N (1970) 133Xenon-uptake, clearance and liver blood flow. An experimental study in the cat. Acta Chir Scand (Suppl) 136:407Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Greenway CV, Oshiro G (1972) Intrahepatic distribution of portal and hepatic arterial blood flows in anaesthetized cats and dogs and the effects of portal occlusion, raised venous pressure and histamine. J Physiol 227:473–485Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Kashiwagi T, Kamada T, Abe H (1974) Dynamic studies on the portal hemodynamics by scintiphotosplenoportography: The visualization of portal venous system using 99mTc. Gastroenterology 67:668–673Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Kashiwagi T, Kamada T, Abe H (1975) Dynamic studies on the portal hemodynamics by scintiphotosplenoportography: Streamline flow in the human portal vein. Gastroenterology 69:1292–1296Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Kashiwagi T, Kamada T, Kimura K, Suematsu T, Abe H, Okagawa K (1976) Studies on the portal circulation by scintiphotosplenoportography. Measurement of regional hepatic blood flow with 133Xe in man. Acta Hepatol Jpn 17:748–754Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Kashiwagi T, Kimura K, Kamada T, Abe H (1978) Measurement of regional hepatic blood flow by scintiphotosplenoportography. Acta Hepatogastroenterol (Stuttg) 25:260–266Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Kashiwagi T, Kimura K, Suematsu T, Schichiri M, Kamada T, Abe H (1980) Dynamic studies on the portal hemodynamics by scintiphotosplenoportography: Flow patterns of portal circulation. Gut 21:57–62Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Lifson N, Levitt DG, Griffen WO, Ellis CJ (1970) Intrahepatic distribution of hepatic blood flow: Double-input studies. Am J Physiol 218:1480–1488Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Mackenzie RJ, Leiberman DP, Mathie RT, Rice GC, Harper AM, Blumgart LH (1976) Liver blood flow measurement: The interpretation of xenon 133 clearance curves. Acta Chir Scand 142:519–525Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Nakata K, Leong GF, Brauer RW (1960) Direct measurement of blood pressures in minute vessels of the liver. Am J Physiol 199:1181–1188Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Rees JR, Redding VJ, Ashfield R (1964) Hepatic blood flow measurement with xenon 133. Lancet II:562–563Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Seneviratne RD (1949) Physiological and pathological responses in the blood-vessels of the liver. Q J Exp Physiol 35:77–110Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Wakim KM, Mann FC (1942) The intrahepatic circulation of blood. Anat Rec 82:233–253Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1981

Authors and Affiliations

  • Toru Kashiwagi
    • 1
  • Kazufumi Kimura
    • 1
  • Toshihiko Suematsu
    • 1
  • Motoaki Schichiri
    • 1
  • Takenobu Kamada
    • 1
  • Hiroshi Abe
    • 1
  1. 1.First Department of Medicine, Division of Nuclear MedicineOsaka University Medical SchoolOsakaJapan

Personalised recommendations