Different enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma in dynamic CT for patients with normal liver and chronic liver diseases and with the dose of contrast medium based on body surface area.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize hepatic parenchymal enhancement for normal and diseased liver in dynamic computed tomography (CT) with the dose of contrast medium calculated on the basis of body surface area (BSA). The records of 328 consecutive patients who underwent triple-phase contrast-enhanced CT were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into four groups: normal liver (n = 125), chronic hepatitis (CH) (n = 92), Child-Pugh grade A liver cirrhosis (LC-A) (n = 78), and Child-Pugh grade B liver cirrhosis (LC-B) (n = 33). All patients received 22 g I m(-2) as contrast material, calculated on the basis of BSA. CT values were measured in the region of interest during the pre-contrast, arterial, and portal phases, and the change in the CT value (ΔHU, where HU is Hounsfield units) compared with pre-contrast images was calculated. Mean ΔHU for the hepatic parenchyma for the normal liver, CH, LC-A, and LC-B groups during the portal phase was 55.5 ± 11.8 HU, 55.2 ± 12.5 HU, 50.0 ± 13.0 HU, and 43.0 ± 12.7 HU, respectively; generalized estimating equation analysis showed the differences were significant (p < 0.01). Hepatic parenchymal enhancement during the portal phase decreased as the severity of chronic liver damage increased.