Is Computed Tomography (CT) accurate for Cirrhosis?

 

 

Computed Tomography (CT): Liver Cirrhosis

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Cirrhosis of the Liver is a diffuse disease with premalignant potential in which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often develops. Hepatitis which is a liver pathology is well related to the emergence of Cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver is due to hardening of the liver tissue after the occurrence of fatty depositions within the liver. These fatty depositions obstructs/limits the movements of blood and other chemical contents within the liver, in that case halting the liver’s general function. 

During a case of Liver Cirrhosis, observable changes in patients ranges from; yellowness of eyes and skin, abdominal pain, bleeding, dark stool from digested blood, weight gain/weight loss, itching, muscle weakness, web of swollen blood vessels in the skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.

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In this article we are looking at the diagnostic capacity of Computed Tomography (CT) in cases of Liver Cirrhosis

Image by Drazen Zigic

The hemodynamics of contrast media are essential to diagnosis of focal liver lesions using computed tomography (CT). Like HCC, lesions with arterial-dominant vascularity show active enhancement during the arterial phase. In the other situation, lesions with portal blood supply appear as hyperenhancing lesions in the portal phase.

The introduction of helical CT has significantly improved the CT evaluation of the liver because the arterial phase can be displayed independently of the portal phase. The combination of arterial phase to imaging to conventional portal phase imaging seems to really enhance tumor detection/characterization.

 

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Although Hepatocellular carcinoma is the single most consistent tumor seen in chronic liver disease conditions, other lesions such as peripheral cholangiocarcinoma and also hemangioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Optimization of helical CT techniques may allow accurate detection and characterization of these lesions.

In addition, CT plays an important role in preoperative staging of hepatocellular carcinoma and also in the preoperative assessment of patient’s candidates to hepatic transplantation. The use of computed tomography angiography with maximum intensity projection and techniques can allow for better preoperative examination and vascular mapping in HCC patients. This article shows the spectrum of helical CT findings in chronic liver disease and specifically in the imaging of HCC and other focal lesions.

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This article views the pattern of helical CT in imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma/chronic liver disease as well as other focal lesions