Comparison between emission and transmission computed tomography of the liver. Issue 6301 (7th November 1981)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khan, O; Ell, P J; Jarritt, P H; Cullum, I D; Williams, E S
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 283:Issue 6301(1981)
• Page Start: 1212
• Page End: 1214
• Publication Date: 1981-11-07
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.283.6301.1212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : Emission computed tomography (emission CT) and conventional planar gamma-camera imaging of the liver were compared in 242 patients with suspected metastatic spread to liver. Concordant data were obtained in 171 patients (71%). Single large lesions, multiple small lesions, and diffuse disease were accurately defined with this new radionuclide tomographic technique. The smallest lesion detected by emission CT was 8 mm. Emission CT, planar gamma-camera imaging, and transmission (x-ray) CT were compared in 107 patients. All three methods gave identical results in 76 patients (71%). Assessed against other criteria, such as histological findings and follow-up data, emission CT yielded the highest range of accuracy (92-96%), while transmission CT and planar gamma-camera imaging had similar but lower accuracies (78-81%). Emission CT had a false-positive rate of 2.8% and a false-negative rate of less than 1%. Thus emission CT is highly sensitive in detecting space-occupying disease in the liver.