Heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in humans.

Color-functional imaging of intrahepatic blood flow was developed using the 133Xe clearance method and a gamma camera with a computer system. During the 2 min after intrasplenic injection of 133Xe in saline solution, 24 sequential gamma images were obtained. After setting the hepatic region, 133Xe clearance curves were extracted from the serial images every 6 X 6 mm element and regional blood flow for each element was calculated. The calculated regional hepatic blood flow values were displayed as a color images in eight color steps. Eleven patients with and without liver diseases were studied. In all the patients studied, heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was clearly demonstrated by the functional image of regional hepatic blood flow. Although a consistent pattern of intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was not obtained, greater-flow regions were frequently observed in the right lobe. Repeat studies in two patients demonstrated that the intrahepatic distribution of blood flow varied. The 10-15 s scintiphotosplenoportograms also showed the existence of restricted or preferential intrahepatic distribution of splenic flow. These results strongly suggest that intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in the human liver is heterogeneous and variable.