Macrovesicular steatosis in living related liver donors: correlation of biopsy findings with CT liver attenuation index and body mass index.
Hepatic steatosis threatens post-transplant graft survival; therefore, pre-operative quantification of steatosis is crucial. Gold standard for evaluation is donor liver biopsy but it is invasive. An alternative non-invasive method is a calculation of CT liver attenuation index. BMI can be an independent factor predicting grade of steatosis but it is necessary to re-define appropriate BMI cut-off points that are specific for Asians.



To retrospectively analyze CT LAI and BMI for quantitative assessment of macrovesicular steatosis in living related liver donors, using histological analysis as gold standard.



A radiologist blinded to histological grading calculated mean CT hepatic attenuation in 48 potential living related liver donors.



CT-derived LAI correctly predicted steatosis in all except 1 patient. Parametric analysis for CT LAI and BMI showed overall weak positive correlation. No significant association was found between BMI and biopsy findings.



Liver biopsy remains a gold standard for evaluation of steatosis. CT LAI of ≤0 correlates well with significant hepatic steatosis and biopsy may be avoided in such cases. Biopsy may be reserved for patients with CT LAI between 1 and 5. BMI alone is not a good predictor of hepatic steatosis in our study population.
Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. maham.61@hotmail.com.
Maham
M
Jehangir
Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Rashed
R
Nazir
Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Aisha
A
Jang
Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Atif
A
Rana
Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Salman
S
Rafique
Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Faisal Saud
FS
Dar
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
liver attenuation index; liver biopsy; liver donor