Influence of glycogen on liver density: computed tomography from a metabolic perspective

The liver is a metabolically active organ with a radiographic density that can be modified by its glycogen and fat content. In rhesus monkeys an increase in liver glycogen induced by glucose loading was accompanied by an increase in attenuation values on computed tomography and a decrease in total liver fat. Conversely, fasting depleted glycogen, increased fat, and decreased liver attenuation. Acute glycogen depletion without significant change in fat was induced by administration of glucagon and accompanied by a decrease in attenuation. These results along with in vitro measurements of glycogen solutions suggest that an increase of approximately 3 Hounsfield units can be expected for each percent increase in liver glycogen content.