Utility of radionuclide liver/spleen scanning and serum enzyme level in detecting hepatic metastases from ovarian carcinoma.

One hundred-five patients with ovarian carcinoma had radionuclide liver/spleen scanning done at the time of staging. Of the 105 initial scans, eight were interpreted as having hepatocellular dysfunction. Seven of these eight had abnormal liver function studies. One patient had a hepatic cyst but had elevated liver function studies. Six patients demonstrated hepatic metastases (at the time of staging). All but one of these occurred in Stage IV tumors of epithelial origin (adenocarcinoma). No hepatic metastases were demonstrated in Stage I or II tumors, and only one Stage III epithelial carcinoma had hepatic metastases. Three patients developed hepatic metastases during the course of treatment. All nine patients with hepatic metastases had abnormal concurrent liver function studies. It is suggested that screening for liver metastases in patients with ovarian carcinoma is of limited value in patients with normal liver function studies.