[Validation of the measurement of hepatic volume by three-dimensional computed tomography]

The aim of this work was to verify experimentally the reliability of 3D CT scan in measuring hepatic volumes. Eight livers were dissected from corpses. The referring liver volume was determined by measure of its hydric shift. The correlation coefficient R was 0.93 (p < 0.001) on 5 mm/5 mm 3D sections, 0.92 (p < 0.001) on 10 mm/10 mm 3D sections and 0.94 (p < 0.0006) on 5 mm/10 mm 3D sections. The paired t-test also showed a 5% risk correlation between the two measurements. Although in vivo imaging is slightly different from in vitro, 3D CT scan seems to be a reliable method to determine an hepatic volume without increased X-ray irradiation.