What are the causes of liver radiotracer uptake on a bone scan?
The most problematic cause of liver uptake on a bone scan is the presence of hepatic metastases, most likely due to melanoma or cancers of the colon, breast, or lung. Sometimes, there can be apparent increased radiotracer activity in the liver that is actually associated with increased radiotracer uptake in the overlying soft tissue. Diffuse hepatic necrosis, although rare, can result in increased radiotracer uptake in the liver on a bone scan. Finally, a colloid formation of the radiotracer because of poor radiotracer preparation techniques can result in the equivalent of a sulfur colloid (liver/spleen) scan.
