A liver and spleen scan is a nuclear scan that is done to look at these organs for disease.

During a liver and spleen scan, a radioactive tracer substance is put into a vein (IV) in the arm. It moves through the blood to the liver and spleen. Areas of the liver and spleen where the tracer collects in large amounts show up as bright spots in the pictures. Areas where the tracer collects in low amounts or does not show up are seen as dark spots. The pattern in which the tracer spreads through the liver and spleen can help find cysts, abscesses, certain types of tumors, or problems with liver function, such as from hepatitis or cirrhosis.

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

Why It Is Done

A liver and spleen scan is done to:

• Check for diseases of the spleen or liver, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. If liver disease has been diagnosed, a liver scan can help show how well the liver is working.
• See whether cancer has spread (metastasized) to the liver. A liver and spleen scan can also show whether treatment for cancer is working.
• Show the condition of the liver and spleen after a belly injury.

How To Prepare

Before your liver and spleen scan, tell your doctor if you:

• Are or might be pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding. Use formula (throw out your breast milk) for 1 to 2 days after the scan until the radioactive tracer has passed from your body. This generally takes 24 hours.
• Have had an X-ray test using barium contrast material (such as a barium enema) or have taken a medicine (such as Pepto-Bismol) that has bismuth in the last 4 days. Barium and bismuth can block a clear picture.

You will empty your bladder right before the scan.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).