A modification of the 133Xe inhalation method for the measurement of liver blood flow in man.

The 133Xe inhalation technique for liver blood flow measurements was modified by using a gamma camera for data acquisition. Desaturation curves were derived from regions of interest (ROIs) over different parts of the liver, the lung and that lung area overlapping the liver, the liver hilus, and the splanchnic area. An additional liver scan with 99mTc-sulfur colloid facilitated the choice of these regions and allowed the estimation of the total liver volume. Thirteen healthy volunteers were examined under baseline conditions. Uncorrected blood flow values derived from the 133Xe-washout curves over the liver (40 +/- 10 ml/min/100 g liver) were lower than those found with other methods. A multicompartment model, based on the input functions calculated from the lung and splanchnic curves, gave values in accordance with those reported in the literature (94 +/- 20 ml/min/100 g or 1,356 +/- 382 ml/min/liver; mean liver volume: 1,475 +/- 227 g). Some methodologic limitations are shared with other invasive or noninvasive techniques.