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Hounsfield unit values of liver pathologies in unenhanced post-mortem computed tomography
Carmen Tisch1, Eva Brencicova1, Nicole Schwendener1
1Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
International Journal of Legal Medicine
|February 22, 2019
Summary
Post-mortem CT (PMCT) Hounsfield unit (HU) values can help detect liver pathology. Unenhanced PMCT liver HU values differ significantly in steatosis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, with values below 30 HU suggesting severe steatosis.
Area of Science:
- Forensic radiology
- Pathology
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Liver pathologies can alter tissue density.
- Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) offers insights into tissue characteristics.
- Hounsfield unit (HU) values reflect tissue density in CT imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if unenhanced PMCT HU values of the liver differ between pathologic and non-pathologic states.
- To investigate the potential of PMCT HU values as a biomarker for liver disease.
Main Methods:
- Liver HU values were measured in five segments across 214 forensic cases using unenhanced PMCT.
- Measurements were correlated with histologic findings of liver tissue.
- HU values from non-pathologic livers were compared against those with diagnosed pathologies.
Main Results:
- A total of 64 non-pathologic livers had a mean HU of 58.32 (SD 8.91).
- Pathologies included steatosis (n=121), fibrosis (n=10), and cirrhosis (n=19).
- Significant differences in HU values were observed for severe steatosis (mean HU 32.44), fibrosis (mean HU 44.7), and cirrhosis (mean HU 50.59) compared to non-pathologic livers (ANOVA testing).
Conclusions:
- Unenhanced PMCT liver HU values can serve as an additional tool for detecting non-specific liver pathology.
- Liver HU values below 30 may specifically indicate severe steatosis.
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