Assessment of the hepatic microvascular changes in liver cirrhosis by perfusion computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the hepatic microvascular parameters in patients with liver cirrhosis by perfusion computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
Perfusion CT was performed in 29 patients without liver disease (control subjects) and 39 patients with liver cirrhosis, including 22 patients with compensated cirrhosis and 17 patients with decompensated cirrhosis, proved by clinical and laboratory parameters. CT cine-scans were obtained over 50 s beginning with the injection of 50 mL of contrast agent. Hepatic microvascular parameters, mean transit time (MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were obtained with the Perfusion 3 software (General Electric, ADW 4.2).


RESULTS
The overall differences of MTT and PS between control subjects, patients with compensated cirrhosis and those with decompensated cirrhosis were statistically significant (P = 0.010 and P = 0.002, respectively). MTT values were 15.613 +/- 4.1746 s, 12.592 +/- 4.7518 s, and 11.721 +/- 4.5681 s for the three groups, respectively, while PS were 18.945 +/- 7.2347 mL/min per 100 mL, 22.767 +/- 8.3936 mL/min per 100 mL, and 28.735 +/- 13.0654 mL/min per 100 mL. MTT in decompensated cirrhotic patients were significantly decreased compared to controls (P = 0.017), whereas PS values were remarkably increased (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The hepatic microvascular changes in patients with liver cirrhosis can be quantitatively assessed by perfusion CT. Hepatic microvascular parameters (MTT and PS), as measured by perfusion CT, were significantly altered in decompensated cirrhosis.
Chen
Mai-Lin
ML
Department of Radiology, China Meitan General Hospital, 29 Xibahe Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100028, China. miningchen@gmail.com
Zeng
Qing-Yu
QY
Huo
Jian-Wei
JW
Yin
Xiao-Ming
XM
Li
Bao-Ping
BP
Liu
Jian-Xin
JX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*