title: Feasibility of liver weight estimation by postmortem computed tomography images: an autopsy study.
abstract: Although organ weight gives pathologists information about the pathogenesis of diseases at autopsy, the knowledge is rarely helpful in postmortem virtual autopsy by computed tomography (CT). To investigate the feasibility of liver weight estimation based on liver volume estimated from three-dimensional CT images and the specific gravity of liver, thirty cadavers who died in the University of Fukui Hospital and whose family members agreed to postmortem CT and autopsy were prospectively enrolled. Mean specific gravity of liver was 1.054 ± 0.009 g/mL (95% confidence interval: 1.0507-1.0573 g/mL). The specific gravity was positively correlated to Hounsfield unit (HU) values of less than 40 (cases with moderate to severe fatty deposition) and remained stable between 1.05 to 1.065 g/mL for HU values greater than 40 (cases with mild or no fatty change). The liver weight estimated by our formula corresponded well to the actual liver weight, and the correlation coefficient was 0.96 (P < 1 × 10(-13) ). The estimated liver weight calculated from estimated liver volume and the specific gravity of 1.055 g/mL was highly accurate, whereas the specific gravity should be reduced by 2%-3% in patients with an HU value less than 40 due to fatty deposition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Division of Autopsy Imaging Center, School of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inai
authors.forename: Sakon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noriki
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.forename: Toyohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naiki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: autopsy; liver weight estimation; postmortem CT; specific gravity of liver