It should be expected that the hepatic blood flow increase in the
cases with liver metastasis. We aimed to find out if there is a correlation between
Doppler parameters and hepatic metabolic activity in oncology patients. 35 patients
with hepatic metastases who were identified by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron
emission tomography scan and assessed with Doppler ultrasound were included
in this prospective study. Patients with hepatic disease, cardiac dysfunction,
dehydration, history of alcoholism, intake of antihypertensive or vasoactive
medication were excluded. Volume flow of the proper hepatic artery and the
portal vein were measured in the hepatoduodenal ligament by Doppler sonography.
Doppler perfusion index (the ratio of the hepatic artery flow to the total liver
blood flow) and flow volumes of 31 age matched subjects were compared. Both
flow of the proper hepatic artery and portal vein were found to be significantly
higher in patients with liver metastasis. The mean Doppler perfusion index value
was 0.2 ± 0.13 in hepatic metastases whereas 0.13 ± 0.05 in control group.
Doppler perfusion index was significantly higher in liver metastases (p=0.008).
A positive correlation was found between the maximum standardized uptakevalue of the liver and flow volume of the proper hepatic artery (r=0.774, p=0).
Blood flow of the proper hepatic artery and Doppler perfusion index correlates
with hepatic standardized uptake value. Flow measurements of the liver may
become an important parameter for selecting patients for further positron
emission tomography scan and following-up the response after systemic and local
therapeutic procedures.