End-stage primary sclerosing cholangitis: CT findings of hepatic morphology in 36 patients

PURPOSE: To determine if there is a significant difference in the hepatic morphology depicted on computed tomographic (CT) scans in patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by primary sclerosing cholangitis versus that in patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by other factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequency of five morphologic findings of the liver parenchyma and two intrahepatic biliary findings identified on CT scans in 36 patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by primary sclerosing cholangitis were compared with the frequency of the same findings in 472 patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by other factors. The morphologic findings were lobulation of the liver contour, atrophy of the lateral or posterior hepatic segments, hypertrophy of the caudate lobe, and pseudotumor of the caudate robe. Lobulation, atrophy, and hypertrophy were subclassified as mild-moderate or severe. The biliary findings were ductal dilatation and calculi. RESULTS: Each of the 11 findings occurred more frequently(P<.05)in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than in the other 472 patients. Six findings occurred more frequently (P<.05) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than in patients with cirrhosis caused by any other single agent. CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference in the hepatic morphology observed in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis-induced end-stage cirrhosis versus that in patients with end-stage cirrhosis of other causes.