Hepatic arteries in potential donors for living related liver transplantation: evaluation with multi-detector row CT angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography in the evaluation of hepatic arterial anatomy in living related liver transplantation (LRLT) donors.


METHODS
During a 10-month period, 62 potential LRLT donors were evaluated with CT and conventional angiography. Multi-detector row CT was performed after intravenous injection of 150 mL of contrast material at 3 mL/sec. CT angiograms of the hepatic arteries were generated by a radiologist who used volume rendering and maximum intensity projection techniques without knowledge of results of conventional angiography. Two reviewers reviewed CT and conventional angiograms retrospectively in consensus. The results of the two examinations were then compared.


RESULTS
CT examinations were technically adequate in 56 (90%) donors. Respiratory motion artifact compromised detailed hepatic artery analysis in six donors (10%). Second-order branches of right hepatic arteries were visualized in 58 donors (94%), and second-order branches of left hepatic arteries were visualized in 51 (82%). A total of 27 hepatic arterial anatomic variations were detected in 22 donors at conventional angiography. CT angiography accurately depicted 25 (93%) anatomic variations in 20 donors (91%). CT angiography did not depict an accessory right hepatic artery in two donors. The number and origins of dominant arteries supplying segment IV were accurately identified at CT angiography in 51 donors (82%). Hepatic arterial anatomy depicted at CT angiography was identical to that at conventional angiography in 50 donors (81%).


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-detector row CT angiography is useful but limited in its ability to depict the dominant artery supplying segment IV and small accessory hepatic arteries.
Lee
Seung Soo
SS
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Poongnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, Korea.
Kim
Tae Kyoung
TK
Byun
Jae Ho
JH
Ha
Hyun Kwon
HK
Kim
Pyo Nyun
PN
Kim
Ah Young
AY
Lee
Sung Gyu
SG
Lee
Moon-Gyu
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed