Impact of multidetector CT on donor selection and surgical planning before living adult right lobe liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to document the impact of multidetector multiphase CT in facilitating patient selection and surgical planning in potential donors being evaluated for living adult right lobe liver transplantation.


METHODS
Forty consecutive potential donors were included in the study. There were 26 men and 14 women, (age range, 18-57 years; mean, 37 years) We performed CT using a multidetector scanner, after IV injection of 180 mL of contrast material at 5 mL/sec. Arterial phase images were acquired at 18 sec (collimation, 1.25 mm; table speed, 7.5) and portal phase images, at 60 sec (collimation, 2.5 mm; table speed, 15). Postprocessing was performed on a commercially available workstation. CT data included dual-energy assessment of liver parenchyma for fatty infiltration; depiction of arterial, portal venous, and hepatic venous anatomy and identification of important vascular variants; and determination of total and lobar liver volume.


RESULTS
Of the 40 potential liver donors evaluated, 15 patients (37.5%) were excluded on the basis of CT findings, with most exclusions a result of portal vein anomalies (n = 8). Fatty infiltration resulted in four exclusions (10%), and small liver volume resulted in three exclusions (7.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Multidetector multiphase CT provided comprehensive parenchymal, vascular, and volumetric preoperative evaluation of potential donors undergoing living adult right lobe liver transplantation. This information had a major impact on patient selection because it was used to stratify patients. It allowed the surgeons to plan their surgical approach, and this planning may reduce postoperative complications.
Kamel
I R
IR
Department of Radiology, Abdominal Imaging Section, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Kruskal
J B
JB
Pomfret
E A
EA
Keogan
M T
MT
Warmbrand
G
G
Raptopoulos
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media