Computed Tomography of the Liver: The Cross-Sectional Anatomy of the Liver and its Clinical Usefulness in the Diagnosis of the Liver Cancer

Abstract

Using computed tomography, the cross-sectional anatomy of the normal liver was studied with regard to the segmentation of the liver based on vascular distribution. The recognition of the left sagittal, right anterior and posterior fissures which are clearly demonstrated on computed tomograms is very important to proceed the diagnosis of hepatic mass lesions based on the segmentation of the liver. Initial data of our clinical studies indeed indicate that computed tomography is essential to determine the cutting zones of hepatic mass lesions for hepatic surgery, it seems, however, less helpful in screening out the primary liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinomas, because radiological information obtained by our presently available computed tomography unit, ACTA 0100, is often decreased by motion artifact, and because contrast enhancement using Meglumine Diatorizoate is less effective in cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. The reason why contrast enhancement is not actually so effective as has been expected in delineating hepatocellular carcinomas was also discussed. © 1978, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.