Sulfur colloid distribution on liver-spleen scan is determined by the perfused Kupffer cell mass. The perfused Kupffer cell mass is proportional to the perfused hepatocyte mass, but is less affected by acute changes in hepatocyte function. Thus, sulfur colloid distribution parameters (precisely measured by quantitative liver-spleen scan [QLSS]) may be an excellent test of the perfused hepatic mass. Although no gold standard exists for confirmation, a close correlation should exist between liver disease severity assessed at peritoneoscopy and sulfur colloid distribution. Peritoneoscopy severity (scored as total peritoneoscopy score [PS]; range, 0-5) was assessed in 76 patients who also had QLSS. Multivariate equation were generated to estimate liver disease severity from the QLSS. These were then applied prospectively in 20 consecutive patients to validate these equations. In 76 patients, 62 were evaluated because of chronic liver disease (CLD) and included those with micronodular (20) and macronodular (20) cirrhosis with various degrees of severity (Child's A, 16; B, 29; C, 17). Multivariate analysis yielded a number of combinations of QLSS parameters that correlated with peritoneoscopic severity. These equations were used to estimate liver disease severity. Estimates of liver disease severity (estimated PS [EPS]) correlated well with the PS in these 76 patients (r = .9064; r2 = .8216; P < .0001). Adding histological fibrosis to the QLSS parameters yields an equation for estimating PS that was even more effective (r = .9462; r2 = .8953; P < .001). However, validation of multivariate equations requires confirmation of their value in a second population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)