Liver and Spleen Scan: About This Test

What is it?

A liver and spleen scan is a nuclear scanning test. It uses a special camera to take pictures of these organs after a radioactive tracer is put into a vein in your arm. The tracer moves through your blood to your liver and spleen. Areas where the tracer collects in large amounts show up as bright spots in the pictures. Areas where it collects in low amounts or does not show up are seen as blank spots. The pattern in which the tracer spreads through the liver and spleen can help find problems in these organs.

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

Why is this test done?

A liver and spleen scan is done to:

• Help find cysts, abscesses, and diseases of the spleen or liver. If liver disease has been diagnosed, a liver scan can help show how well the liver is working.
• Check for cirrhosis of the liver. In cirrhosis, healthy tissue in the liver is replaced with scar tissue.
• Look for cancer in the liver.
• See if cancer has spread (metastasized) to the liver or spleen.
• Look for problems of the liver and spleen after a belly injury.

How do you prepare for the test?

If you are breastfeeding, you may want to pump enough breast milk before the test to get through 1 to 2 days of feeding. The radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk and is not good for the baby.

How is the test done?

• A small amount of radioactive tracer will be injected into a vein in your arm.
• You'll lie on your back on a table. 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.

What are the risks of this test?

• Allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer are rare.
• Anytime you're exposed to radiation, there's a small chance of damage to cells or tissue. That's the case even with the low-level radioactive tracer used for this test. But the chance of damage is very low compared with the benefits of the test.

How long does the test take?

The test will take about an hour.

What happens after the test?

• Most of the tracer will leave your body through your urine or stool within a day. So be sure to flush the toilet right after you use it, and wash your hands well with soap and water. The amount of radiation in the tracer is very small. This means it isn't a risk for people to be around you after the test.
• After the test, drink lots of fluids for the next 24 hours to help flush the tracer out of your body.
• Radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed your baby for 1 or 2 days after this test. During this time, you can give your baby breast milk you stored before the test, or you can give formula. Discard the breast milk you pump in the 1 or 2 days after the test.
• In some cases, you may develop soreness or swelling at the injection site. Try putting a moist, warm pack on your arm.