Assessment of liver volume variation to evaluate liver function

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging
• Quantitative Analysis

Background:

• Liver volumetry is crucial for assessing liver disease severity.
• Understanding the relationship between hepatic volume and disease progression in cirrhosis and acute liver failure (ALF) is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the value of liver volumetry in cirrhosis and ALF patients.
• To explore the correlation between hepatic volume and disease severity.
• To establish liver volume as a prognostic marker for ALF.

Main Methods:

• Collected clinical data from 48 cirrhosis patients, 39 ALF patients, and 60 healthy controls.
• Calculated computed tomography-derived liver volume (CTLV) and standard liver volume (SLV) using regression analysis with body surface area (BSA).
• Grouped patients by Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification (cirrhosis) and prognosis (ALF) for comparative analysis. Utilized ROC analysis to predict ALF prognosis.

Main Results:

• Mean liver volume in controls was 1,058 ± 337 cm³.
• Cirrhosis patients in Child C classification showed significantly reduced liver volume index (CTLV/SLV).
• ALF patients who died had a significantly lower CTLV/SLV ratio compared to survivors. A CTLV/SLV ratio < 83.9% indicated poor prognosis.

Conclusions:

• The CTLV/SLV ratio correlates well with liver function and disease progression in cirrhosis and ALF.
• Liver volumetry, specifically the CTLV/SLV ratio, is a valuable tool for assessing disease severity.
• This ratio serves as a significant predictive marker for the prognosis of ALF patients.