A simple method to approximate liver size on cross-sectional images using living liver models

Muggli, D.; Müller, M.A.; Karlo, C.; Fornaro, J.; Marincek, B.; Frauenfelder, T.

doi:10.1016/j.crad.2009.02.013

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Volume 64, Issue 7 , Pages 682-689, July 2009

A simple method to approximate liver size on cross-sectional images using living liver models

Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Received 5 December 2008; received in revised form 2 February 2009; accepted 13 February 2009.

Aim

To assess whether a simple. diameter-based formula applicable to cross-sectional images can be used to calculate the total liver volume.

Materials and methods

On 119 cross-sectional examinations (62 computed tomography and 57 magnetic resonance imaging) a simple, formula-based method to approximate the liver volume was evaluated. The total liver volume was approximated measuring the largest craniocaudal (cc), ventrodorsal (vd), and coronal (cor) diameters by two readers and implementing the equation: . Inter-rater reliability, agreement, and correlation between liver volume calculation and virtual liver volumetry were analysed.

Results

No significant disagreement between the two readers was found. The formula correlated significantly with the volumetric data (r>0.85, p<0.0001). In 81% of cases the error of the approximated volume was <10% and in 92% of cases <15% compared to the volumetric data.