Thallium-201 per rectal scintigraphy improves prognostic evaluation in alcoholic liver cirrhosis of low and mid severity.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the contribution of thallium-201 chloride (Tl-201) per rectal scintigraphy in long term prognostic evaluation of alcoholic, cirrhotic patients. The data obtained from 170 biopsy-proven cirrhotic patients have been used in this 4-yr survival study. The severity of the liver disease was assessed by using the classic Child-Turcotte score as modified by Pugh (CTP score). In patients belonging to CTP class A and CTP class B, the Tl-201 test allowed the identification of subgroups with different survival rates. In these two classes of patients, the Tl-201 per rectal scintigraphy could be used for improving prognostic evaluation. In patients of class C on the other hand, 4-yr survival rates were very low, and the Tl-201 test did not bring significant additional prognostic information. Therefore, we suggest performing the Tl-201 test in cirrhotic patients of classes A and B as defined by the CTP score.