Liver volume assessment by conventional vs. helical CT.
BACKGROUND
Accurate noninvasive measurement of the volume of the liver has many potential clinical applications and is an important element in the preoperative evaluation of the liver transplant recipient. Helical (or spiral) computed tomography (CT) has theoretical advantages over conventional CT in this application because the entire liver can be imaged in a single breath-hold, limiting inaccuracies related to patient motion and respiratory variation.


METHODS
We compared liver volumes measured by conventional CT and helical CT in 22 patients undergoing preoperative evaluation for liver transplantation.


RESULTS
The mean volume for helical CT is 1328 ml (SD 405) and conventional CT is 1323 ml (SD 417).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no significant difference between the helical CT and conventional CT volumes for each patient.
Stapakis
J
J
Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Stamm
E
E
Townsend
R
R
Thickman
D
D
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*