Liver And Spleen Scan: Results
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Results
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.
Normal: | Normal amounts of the radioactive tracer are found in the liver and spleen. No areas of large or small amounts of tracer are seen. The liver and spleen are normal in size, shape, and location. |
Abnormal: | The tracer pattern in the liver may show diseases. The tracer pattern shows a cyst, an abscess, a collection of blood (hematoma), a lump made up of blood vessels (hemangioma), or a tumor. The tracer pattern in the spleen may not be in the right place or may show spleen tissue that was missed during surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy). The liver or spleen may be enlarged because of a disease or may have an abnormal shape because a tumor is pressing against the organ. Certain types of tumors may cause large amounts of tracer to collect in the liver or spleen. Certain types of tumors may cause no tracer to collect in the liver or spleen. |
| Last updated: | October 20, 2008 |
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| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Myo Min Han, MD - Nuclear Medicine |
| Editors: | Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer |
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