The volumetric measurement of developing liver atrophy in patients with Chilaiditi's sign

The Chilaiditi's sign is a hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon and is a rare diagnosed condition. This condition may cause a problem in liver transplantation applications which are progressively increasing in number. Although not reported in the literature, we observed that liver atrophy developed in the intestinal interposition region in patients with Chilaiditi's sign in computed tomography (CT) images. This study aimed to determine the amount of liver atrophy caused by the interposed colon, the factors that change the rate of atrophy, and the effects of this situation on the liver parenchyma.

A total of 30,000 patients who presented to radiology department with any reason between March 2012 and March 2013 and who underwent thoracoabdominal or abdominal CT imaging were retrospectively analyzed. The volumes of the liver right lobe and lateral/medial segments of the left lobe were estimated in cm³ using Volume Viewer application in 75 cases (20 females, 55 males) in which Chilaiditi's sign was observed in CT images.

17-27% of the lobes affected from the colon interposition were seen to develop atrophy. The ratio of right lobe volume to total liver volume was found to be higher in patients with left lobe atrophy (74%) than right lobe atrophy (55%) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the rate of the volume of the left lobe to the total liver volume was found to be higher in cases with right lobe atrophy (45%) compared to left lobe atrophy (26%) (p < 0.001).

Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon can cause liver atrophy. This condition should especially be considered in the liver transplantation applications. Compensatory hypertrophy may develop in the unaffected liver lobe and CT is very useful for diagnostic imaging.