Evaluation of Fatty Liver by Computed Tomography in Human

Chung Sik Rhee

Copyright ⓒ 1991. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jul 24, 2015

Abstract

The imaging results and medical records of 48 patients with CT appearance suggestive of fatty liver were reviewed, fatty liver often has a distinctive appearance with CT, usually with a nonspherical shape. absence of mass effect, and a density close to water or fat. Significant correlation was found between changes in CT value of the liver and fat accumulation in the liver cells.

The fat infiltrated area of hepatic parenchyma had CT value ranging from -25(HU) to 42(HU) on unenhanced scan. The CT diagnosis of fatty metamorphosis is usually suggested when the CT density of the liver is less than the spleen, because the normal hepatic parenchyma has an attenuation value approximately 9(HU) greater than the spleen.

The sensitivity of CT in demonstrating fat may prove valuable in the detection and monitoring of fatty infiltration on the liver.