liver scan, a noninvasive technique for visualizing the size, shape, and consistency of the liver and for assessing the liver’s functional status. It involves IV injection of a radioactively labeled compound that is readily taken up and trapped in the Kupffer cells of the liver. The radiation emitted by the compound is recorded by a radiation detector and can be photographed with a scintillation camera or x-ray film. Liver scans are useful for diagnosing three-dimensional lesions such as abscesses and tumors, for performing biopsies, and for evaluating hepatomegaly, jaundice, and ascites.
