title: [Computer tomography in the detection of hemochromatosis].
abstract: Computed tomography (CT) was performed to estimate the density of the hepatic and splenic parenchyma in 18 patients with hemochromatosis. The mean CT density was 79 +/- 21 Hounsfield units compared with 61 +/- 9 (p < 0.01) in 31 controls without hepatic disease. Increased density above 79 Hounsfield units was found in eight patients out of 18 (44%). The highest density (125 Hounsfield units) was found in a patient with a serum ferritin of 6500 micrograms/l. There was an association between CT density and serum ferritin (r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The difference in density between liver and spleen gave better discrimination between patients and controls: 12 of 18 (67%) showed an increased difference in density between liver and spleen. We conclude that CT represents a non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy in cases where the latter is contraindicated. However, CT is not sensitive when serum ferritin is below 1,000 micrograms/l.
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk avdeling, Aker sykehus, Oslo.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rostad
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raknerud
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Try
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
vernacular_title: Computertomografi til påvisning av hemokromatose.