Quantitative multilevel mapping of hepatic blood flow by xenon computed tomography using aorta

A noninvasive and quantitative technique has been developed to measure human hepatic blood flow by xenon computed tomography (Xe-CT). Accurate data on time-dependent xenon concentrations in the arterial blood are indispensable for Xe-CT to ensure quantitativeness of measured blood flow. A method has been established by our group to use both aorta and end-tidal data to obtain arterial xenon information. Multilevel (3 levels) maps of arterial blood flow (Fa), portal blood flow (Fp), and partition coefficient (lambda) were created for patients with chronic hepatitis. A method to objectively evaluate Fa, Fp, and lambda values for the whole liver has also been developed by our group.