Background/aim: Intraarterial Technetium-99m-Macroaggregated Albumin (99mTc-MAA) administration is an established method to predict particle distribution prior to radioembolization. This study aimed to analyse the impact of intraarterial administration of 99mTc-MAA on changes in liver-specific laboratory parameters and to assess whether such changes are associated with post-radioembolization hepatotoxicity.
Patients and methods: A total of 202 patients treated with radioembolization received prior mapping angiography with 99mTc-MAA administration. All patients underwent clinical and laboratory examinations, including liver-specific parameters at certain times before and after mapping angiography/99mTc-MAA administration, as well as before radioembolization and during follow-up.
Results: Bilirubin increased temporarily after 99mTc-MAA administration (p<0.001), but was not clinically relevant, and returned close to the initial value before radioembolization. These changes showed no association with subsequent postradioembolic hepatotoxicity or shortened overall survival.
Conclusion: 99mTc-MAA administration results in a significant, however, not clinically relevant transient increase in bilirubin levels, which does not provide a predictive value for subsequent radioembolization outcome or postradioembolic hepatotoxicity.
Keywords: 99mTc-MAA; Technetium-99m-Macroaggregated Albumin; hepatotoxicity; radioembolization.
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