Evaluation of the hepatic blood flow increase in the cases with liver metastasis and prediction of patent cases of liver metastasis using dynamic CT.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to measure hepatic blood flow increase in cases with liver metastasis and to diagnose minimal metastasis which cannot be visualized by imaging modalities. METHODOLOGY: The evaluation of hepatic arterial flow increase was performed quantitatively by newly devised index ELR (early-late-ratio) using dynamic computed tomographic (CT) scanning with contrast media. RESULTS: The ratio of the cases with liver metastasis was significantly higher than that of normal liver control. It was revealed that the ratio was correlated with microvessel proliferation in the liver around the metastasis by examination of surgical specimen. Moreover, the patent group which proved to have metastasis within 6 months also had a significant higher ELR value. CONCLUSIONS: ELR not only was useful to evaluate hepatic blood flow increase in the cases with liver metastasis but also could be applied to predict the patent group with micrometastasis.