New formula for predicting standard liver volume in Chinese adults.

AIM: To obtain a reference range of morphological indices and establish a formula to accurately predict standard liver volume (SLV) in Chinese adults. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT)-estimated total liver volume (CTLV) was determined in 369 Chinese adults. Age, sex, body weight, body height, body mass index, and body surface area (BSA) were recorded using CT. Total splenic volume, portal venous diameter (PVD), splenic venous diameter (SVD), and portal venous cross-sectional area (PVCSA) were also measured by CT. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of each parameter on CTLV and to develop a new SLV formula. The accuracy of the new formula was compared with the existing formulas in a validation group. RESULTS: The average CTLV was 1205.41 ± 257.53 cm3 (range, 593.80-2250.10 cm3). The average of PVD, SVD and PVCSA was 9.34 ± 1.51 mm, 7.40 ± 1.31 mm and 173.22 ± 48.11 mm2, respectively. The CT-estimated splenic volume of healthy adults varied markedly (range, 46.60-2892.30 cm3). Sex, age, body height, body weight, body mass index, and BSA were significantly correlated with CTLV. BSA showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.546, P < 0.001), and was used to establish a new model for calculating SLV: SLV (cm3) = 758.259 × BSA (m2)-124.272 (R2 = 0.299, P < 0.001). This formula also predicted CTLV more accurately than the existing formulas, but overestimated CTLV in elderly subjects > 70 years of age, and underestimated liver volume when CTLV was > 1800 cm3. CONCLUSION: Our new BSA-based formula is more accurate than other formulas in estimating SLV in Chinese adults.

The evaluation of non-invasive multi-slice spiral computed tomography-based indices for the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate easily available computed tomography (CT)-based parameters for assessing the presence and severity of cirrhosis and predicting complications in Chinese patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: CT-based morphological indices were determined in 167 patients with cirrhosis and 244 healthy volunteers. The correlation of morphological indices with Child-Pugh score and cirrhotic complications was analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to analyze the diagnostic performance of the indices. Sensitivity and specificity were determined. RESULTS: Patients with cirrhosis had a lower total liver volume (TLV) and a larger total splenic volume (SV) than healthy individuals. There was a significant difference in the portal venous diameter, splenic venous diameter and portal venous cross-sectional area between the two groups. A low TLV/SV ratio was strongly associated with liver cirrhosis; with a cut-off value of 4.27 for the diagnosis of cirrhosis TLV/SV had a sensitivity of 87.7% and a specificity of 84.9%, and AUROC of 0.921. Further analysis showed that TLV/SV was accurate in discriminating between mild and moderate/severe cirrhosis and could be used for predicting complications of cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: The easily available parameters of CT can accurately evaluate the severity of cirrhosis in Chinese patients.