Dynamic CT of hepatic cirrhosis

The aim of this research was the estimation of the dynamic sequential CT scanning (d-CT) method of the cirrhotic liver. The examined group consisted of 23 patients (8 women and 15 men, average age--57) histopathologically diagnosed as the cirrhotic liver. Dynamic CT scanning was performed 30-40 seconds after contrast material injection administered with an automatic syringe in the amount of 125 ml at flow time 2-3 ml/s. After the administration of contrast material the measurements of the hepatic parenchyma density were taken both in the left and right lobes. Time-density curves of the liver, spleen and portal vein were drawn for each patient. The curves of the liver and spleen of cirrhotic liver patients were not different from the curves obtained due to examining people with no medical problems. The time of peak enhancement of the liver and spleen of cirrhotic liver patients was delayed compared with control group. Time-density curves of the liver and spleen were considerably flattened of peak and were slow and longer in washout phase. Moreover, the time of peak enhancement of the portal vein curves was longer and the curves were flattened. Three cirrhotic liver patients had focal neoplastic lesion. The patterns of the time-density curves of the liver in dynamic CT scanning may contain diagnostic information useful for prophylactic monitoring of the neoplastic lesion, which develops in hepatic cirrhosis.