CT of liver steatosis after subtotal pancreatectomy

The liver attenuation of 50 patients operated with a subtotal pancreatectomy for pancreatic and duodenal tumors was evaluated with CT. Of 18 patients surviving more than 18 months after surgery, 7 developed a markedly reduced liver attenuation indicating liver steatosis. No patient became diabetic or showed evidence of malnutrition after surgery. No correlation between the liver attenuation values and the patients' liver function tests was noted. The steatosis was reversible in 4 of the 7 patients. The pathophysiological cause of the steatosis remains unknown. Partial pancreatectomy should be included among the reasons listed for liver steatosis.