Analysis of factors affecting uptake of Tc-99m Sn-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan by hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

We performed Tc-99m PMT imaging in 176 patients with HCC and evaluated factors affecting 99mTc-PMT uptake by HCC with a logistic model. The probability of HCC showing increase in uptake of the radioisotope was 104.6 times higher in patients with the Ed I type than in those with the Ed III type and 12.1 times higher in patients with a tumor diameter of 5.0-7.9 cm than in those with a tumor diameter of 2.0-5.0 cm. Among the other variables, the serum AFP level and sex were suggested to have effects similar to those of the tumor size on Tc-99m PMT uptake by HCC. The grade of morphological differentiation of the tumor was therefore most markedly related to Tc-99m PMT uptake.