Liver and Spleen Scan

A liver and spleen scan is a nuclear scan that is done to look at these organs for disease.

During a liver and spleen scan, a radioactive tracer substance is put into a vein (IV) in the arm. It moves through the blood to the liver and spleen. Areas of the liver and spleen where the tracer collects in large amounts show up as bright spots in the pictures. Areas where the tracer collects in low amounts or does not show up are seen as dark spots. The pattern in which the tracer spreads through the liver and spleen can help find cysts, abscesses, certain types of tumors, or problems with liver function, such as from hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Scans of the liver and the spleen are done at the same time.

A liver and spleen scan is done to:

• Check for diseases of the spleen or liver, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. If liver disease has been diagnosed, a liver scan can help show how well the liver is working.
• See whether cancer has spread (metastasized) to the liver. A liver and spleen scan can also show whether treatment for cancer is working.
• Show the condition of the liver and spleen after a belly injury.

Before your liver and spleen scan, tell your doctor if you:

• Are or might be pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding. Use formula (throw out your breast milk) for 1 to 2 days after the scan until the radioactive tracer has passed from your body. This generally takes 24 hours.
• Have had an X-ray test using barium contrast material (such as a barium enema) or have taken a medicine (such as Pepto-Bismol) that has bismuth in the last 4 days. Barium and bismuth can block a clear picture.

You will empty your bladder right before the scan.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

A liver and spleen scan is often done by a nuclear medicine technologist. The scan pictures are read by a radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist.

You will need to take off any jewelry. You may need to take off all or most of your clothes. You will be given a gown to wear during the test.

The technologist cleans the site on your arm where the radioactive tracer will be injected. A small amount of the radioactive tracer is then injected.

You will lie on your back on a table and a large scanning camera will be placed right above you. It may move slowly above and around your body, scanning for the tracer and recording pictures as the tracer moves into your liver and spleen. The camera does not give off any radiation, so you are not exposed to more radiation during the scan.

You may be asked to move into different positions so the tracer spreads through the liver and spleen. You need to lie very still during each scan so the pictures are clear. You may be asked to hold your breath briefly during some of the scans.

A liver and spleen scan takes about 1 hour.

You may feel nothing at all from the needle in your vein, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch. You may find it hard to lie still during the scan. Ask for a pillow or blanket to make yourself as comfortable as possible before the scan begins.

Allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer are rare. Most of the tracer will be passed from your body (through your urine or stool) in a day. Be sure to flush the toilet right away and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water to prevent anyone else from being in touch with the tracer. The amount of radiation used in the scan is so small that people can be in contact with you following the test.

In some cases, you may develop soreness or swelling at the injection site. Try putting a moist, warm pack on your arm.

There is always a small chance of damage to cells or tissue from being exposed to any radiation, even the low level radioactive tracer used for this test.

A liver and spleen scan is a nuclear scan that is done to look at these organs for disease. The results of a liver and spleen scan are ready in 2 days.

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Being pregnant. A liver and spleen scan is usually not done during pregnancy because the radiation could damage the developing baby (fetus).
• Using barium or bismuth. If a liver and spleen scan is needed, it should be done before any tests that use barium (such as a barium enema).
• You cannot lie still during the test.

• Computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often done now instead of a liver and spleen scan to check for problems with these organs. For more information, see the medical tests CT Scan of the Body or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Body.
• If a liver and spleen scan show problems, more tests such as a liver biopsy, an ultrasound, or X-rays may be done. For more information, see the medical tests Percutaneous Liver Biopsy, Abdominal Ultrasound, or Abdominal X-ray.
• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a special CT scan method that may be used during a liver scan. After the radioactive tracer is injected, a special camera (called a scintillation camera) takes pictures from several views.
• Special types of scans to check the spleen or liver are done by collecting a blood sample from the person. These blood cells are "tagged" with a radioactive tracer. These tagged cells are then given back to the person. One type of scan can show whether the spleen, which should remove the tagged cells from the blood, is working well. Another type of tagged red blood cell scan is used to find certain liver problems or areas of bleeding.

Other Works Consulted

• Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2004). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

• Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2006). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby.