Nuclear Medicine Board
Exam Review 12
Gastrointestinal System
Questions and Answers
what is the largest solid organ in the body?
Ans- liver
where is the liver located?
Ans- right side underneath the ribs and directly below the diaphragm
which lobe is bigger, right or left?
Ans- right lobe
,what are the type types of cells in the liver?
Ans- retuculoendothenial (RE) cells (Kupffer cells) and hepatocytes
what are the reticuloendothelial cells responsible for?
Ans- 15% of livers mass; for phagocytosis
approximately 80% of the body's RE cells are in the liver with the remainder in
the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph system
what are the hepatocytes responsible for?
Ans- make up most of the liver's mass and do many things including bile
formation
the liver is highly vascular with two blood supplies which are what?
Ans- hepatic artery- brings liver oxygenated blood
hepatic portal vein- carries blood containing nutrients absorbed from the
intestines into the liver
,where is the spleen located?
Ans- retroperitoneally located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen
what are the indications of preforming a liver spleen scan?
Ans- determine the size, shape, configuration and position of either the liver
or the spleen
detection of tumors, hematomas, cysts, abscesses and trauma
evaluation of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis
what is the radiopharmaceutucal used for in liver spleen imaging?
Ans- 99mTc-sulfur colloid
what is the average particle size of sulfur colloid?
Ans- 1 um
, how is sulfur colloid taken up by the liver?
Ans- through the RE cells they are engulfed (phagocytosis)
the RE cells are dispersed throughout the liver and lead to a homogeneous
distribution
should liver spleen imaging be done before or after barium or other contrast
agents for other modalities?
Ans- done before because the agents may cause photon-deficient artifacts to
appear on nuclear images
what is the protocol for liver/spleen imaging?
Ans- 5-10mCi of sulfur colloid administered via IV
if a flow study is indicated place patient under the camera prior to injection
(may show vascularity defects)
allow 10-15 minutes for tracer localization
Exam Review 12
Gastrointestinal System
Questions and Answers
what is the largest solid organ in the body?
Ans- liver
where is the liver located?
Ans- right side underneath the ribs and directly below the diaphragm
which lobe is bigger, right or left?
Ans- right lobe
,what are the type types of cells in the liver?
Ans- retuculoendothenial (RE) cells (Kupffer cells) and hepatocytes
what are the reticuloendothelial cells responsible for?
Ans- 15% of livers mass; for phagocytosis
approximately 80% of the body's RE cells are in the liver with the remainder in
the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph system
what are the hepatocytes responsible for?
Ans- make up most of the liver's mass and do many things including bile
formation
the liver is highly vascular with two blood supplies which are what?
Ans- hepatic artery- brings liver oxygenated blood
hepatic portal vein- carries blood containing nutrients absorbed from the
intestines into the liver
,where is the spleen located?
Ans- retroperitoneally located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen
what are the indications of preforming a liver spleen scan?
Ans- determine the size, shape, configuration and position of either the liver
or the spleen
detection of tumors, hematomas, cysts, abscesses and trauma
evaluation of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis
what is the radiopharmaceutucal used for in liver spleen imaging?
Ans- 99mTc-sulfur colloid
what is the average particle size of sulfur colloid?
Ans- 1 um
, how is sulfur colloid taken up by the liver?
Ans- through the RE cells they are engulfed (phagocytosis)
the RE cells are dispersed throughout the liver and lead to a homogeneous
distribution
should liver spleen imaging be done before or after barium or other contrast
agents for other modalities?
Ans- done before because the agents may cause photon-deficient artifacts to
appear on nuclear images
what is the protocol for liver/spleen imaging?
Ans- 5-10mCi of sulfur colloid administered via IV
if a flow study is indicated place patient under the camera prior to injection
(may show vascularity defects)
allow 10-15 minutes for tracer localization
