Gallium scanning in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinicopathological study of 45 patients.

Gallium-67 citrate scintigraphy was carried out in 45 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma in conjunction with serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement, 99mTc-colloid liver scan and selective arteriography. 67Ga accumulated in the tumour in 31 patients, and partial uptake was noted in three others. Scanning detected small hepatomas in four patients with cirrhosis in whom 99mTc-colloid scanning was negative. Clinical, laboratory and histopathological comparisons of 67Ga-positive and -negative patients showed no significant differences. 67Ga scanning of the liver was found to be useful in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in patients with associated cirrhosis.