title: Normal organ volume assessment from abdominal CT.
abstract: We determined the normal distribution of abdominal organ volumes measured from abdominal computed tomographic (CT) images. A total of 149 adult abdominal CT studies were selected, and 711 organs (388 from males, 323 from females) were outlined by hand on each CT image by using a computer. More than 18000 organ outlines were traced. The organs studied included left and right kidneys, left and right adrenals, spleen, pancreas, and liver, and the first lumbar vertebrae was also evaluated. Using the known pixel size and section thickness, organ volumes were computed. Organ volumes were corrected for height and weight for each sex. The normal and cumulative normal distributions for each organ studied were computed, demonstrating the range of organ volumes for each sex that exist in the normal adult population. Organ volumes ranged from a mean of 4.4 mL (female left adrenal) to 1710 mL (male liver). Mean organ volumes were 64.4, 156.5, 179.8, and 1411 mL for the female pancreas, kidneys, spleen, and liver, respectively. Corresponding male volumes were 87.4, 193.1, 238.4, and 1710 mL, respectively. Tabular data are provided that indicate the relative size for each organ volume in terms of the cumulative probability distribution. Normative data are provided to allow physicians to estimate where in the normal range a particular organ volume lays. Organ volumes may be useful as quantitative indices of pathologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Research Imaging Center, 4701 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Geraghty
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McGahan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016014:Linear Models; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012737:Sex Factors; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*