Investigation of the correlation between CT densitometry and histopathologic results in the evaluation of fatty infiltration of the liver in the preoperative radiologic assessment of the living liver donor candidates

The purpose of this study was to determine the diasgnostic value of CT densitometry in the quantification of fat content in human liver in living liver transplantation donor candidates.The study was performed on 93 living liver donor candidates who were between 19-56 of ages(32.7 years ± 8.7). In the native CT images which is obtained in the routine preoperative radiologic evaluation of donor candidates, equally sized region of interest were placed on nonvascular areas of liver and spleen. Mean hepatic attenuation (MHA) and mean splenic attenuation (MSA) were determined using ROI measurements and calculated LAI values. Needle and wedge biopsy materials were assesed histopathologically to determine the actual degree of hepatosteatosis and were compared to LAI values.At histopathological analysis, there were no steatosis in 58(%62.4) of 93 donor candidates. The rest of the donors had steatosis in vary of rate. There were 69 donors who have %5 or less steatosis in histopathological evaluation. CT densitometry predicted ? 5% hepatosteatosis in 63 subjects. There were %5-30 steatosis in other 6 donors with CT densitometry.There was a well correlation (r=0,661) between the LAI values and histopathological results. To get a better correlation we divided the histopathological stetosis into three group(? %5 , %6-%30 ve %30? ) as well like CT densitometry. The new cut off value for LAI was ?6 for %5 or less steatosis, 3? LAI ?5 for [6-30] steatosis and ?3 for %30 or more steatosis. There was a great correlation (r=0,724) between these LAI values and histopathologic results.The CT densitometry is a noninvasive and easy technique in the assesment of the macrovesicular hepatosteatosis. It is faster and easier than histopathological evaluation.LAI values correctly predict the presence of fatty infiltration with significant sensitivity (75%)and specficity (74%) and in this way BT densitometry technique prevents invasive percutenous liver biopsy.