Correlation between liver volume and liver weight in a cohort with chronic liver disease: a semiautomated CT-volumetry study

Background: To estimate the optimal density coefficient for conversion of liver volume into liver weight in patients with chronic liver disease based on semiautomated CT-liver volumetry data and the histologic Ishak score of explanted liver. Methods: A total of 114 patients (39 female; age, 46 +/- 20 years) with chronic liver diseases who underwent liver transplantation between January 2010 and September 2020 were identified over a patient chart search at our institution and subsequently analyzed in retrospect. All patients had contrast-enhanced CT-examinations (mean, 24 days) to liver transplantation. Liver volume was calculated by a semiautomated software and results compared with the liver weight registered by the pathologist. Each explanted liver was histologically scored into six classes according to the Ishak classification where the categories were subgrouped based on recommendation of the pathologists into the following categories 0-3, 4-5 and 6. Results: Mean liver volume was 1,870 +/- 1,195, 1,162 +/- 679 and 1,278 +/- 510 mL for the categories 0-3, 4-5 and 6, respectively. Mean liver weight was 1,624 +/- 999, 1,082 +/- 669 and 1,346 +/- 559 g for the categories 0-3, 4-5 and 6, respectively. A coefficient of 0.92 +/- 0.22, 0.98 +/- 0.28 and 1.06 +/- 0.20 g/mL was found at best for conversion of liver volume into liver weight in these subgroups. Differences between Ishak-subgroups proved significant (0.002). In 4 patients with cystic liver disease, density coefficients varied significantly and were found generally lower compared to the other liver disorders. Conclusions: Our results yielded significant differences between the density coefficients calculated along with the Ishak score and also for the subgroup with cystic liver disease.

Automated summary

The study estimates the optimal density coefficient for converting liver volume to liver weight in patients with chronic liver disease. The results show significant differences in the density coefficients based on the Ishak score and in the subgroup with cystic liver disease.