Computerised tomography and the liver

Computerised tomography produces an excellent image of the liver. The author discusses the relevant technical factors such as the use of window levels and window widths, tissue attenuation values and filtering. The importance of the applied anatomy and the use of contrast agents are discussed and then the findings on computed tomography in clinical practice are presented. The lesions that can be visualised include cysts, abscesses, primary tumours, metastases, fatty liver, subphrenic abscess, dilated bile ducts and cholelithiasis as well as surrounding ascites. These appearances are described and illustrated.