Increased liver density in computed tomography as a result of anti-arrhythmia therapy with amiodarone

Abstract

To assess whether the hepatic density on CT scans of patients receiving amiodarone therapy differs significantly from the hepatic density of a control group not receiving the drug. Hepatic density was assessed by CT in 31 patients receiving amiodarone, 7 receiving short-term (12-14 days), 8 receiving mid-term (20-89 days) and 16 receiving long-term therapy (3-26 months), as well as in a control group of 15 patients. Mean liver density of all patients under amiodarone therapy (77.9 +/- 11.7 HU) was significantly higher (p < 0.005) than in the control group (56.6 +/- 2.8 HU). The smallest increase in density was found in patients with short-term therapy (64.8 +/- 3.4 HU; p < 0.05), the greatest increase in patients with long-term therapy (85.0 +/- 8.9 HU; p < 0.001). In patients receiving amiodarone therapy, a significantly increased hepatic density on CT scans is observed. This finding has to be considered as a differential diagnosis to other hepatopathies with increased density of the liver.