Accuracy and significance of pretransplant liver volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging

S. H. Caldwell, E. E. De Lange, M. J. Gaffey, M. Sue, J. C. Boyd, R. C. Dickson, C. Driscoll, W. C. Stevenson, M. B. Ishitani, C. McCullough, T. L. Pruett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Measurement of liver volume in patients with advanced liver disease is used to gauge the appropriate size of donor organs and may have prognostic value. We sought to determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in measuring liver volume in 19 adult patients under consideration for liver transplantation. We also correlated the liver volume determination to the clinical severity of disease. Liver volume was measured at MRI by averaging the calculated volumes from coronal and transverse breath-hold T1- weighted images. These results were compared to the explanted liver volume measured by fluid displacement and the explant mass. The correlation coefficient for MRI liver volume and the explant displacement volume was 0.90. The mean liver volume for Child-Pugh class AB by MRI was 1986 ± 568 mL (1002-2470 mL) compared to 1433 ± 379 mL (540-1889 mL) in Child-Pugh class C patients (p = .02). We conclude that MRI offers an anatomically accurate means of determining adult liver volume in vivo. Lower mean liver volumes were observed in Child-Pugh class C patients. In addition to its ability to provide tumor screening and vascular assessment, MRI is able to provide accurate determinations of liver volume in patients undergoing liver transplant evaluations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)438-442
Number of pages5
JournalLiver Transplantation and Surgery
Volume2
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Hepatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Accuracy and significance of pretransplant liver volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this