Hepatic Computed Tomography Volumetry for Noninvasive Detection of Hepatic Steatosis and Steatohepatitis in Living Liver Donors

Objectives: Detection of hepatic steatosis in donors is an important step for selection of a suitable liver allograft in living-donor transplant. This study aimed to investigate the role of hepatic computed tomography volumetry as a noninvasive method for detection of hepatic steatosis in living liver donors. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, individuals who had undergone liver biopsy as a pretransplant checkup before living-donor liver transplant were included.The segmental liver volumes were measured by computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast enhancement. Results: Our study included 179 individuals. Mean total volume of the liver was 1705.2 +/- 256.5 cm(3) in those with steatohepatitis and 1419.4 +/- 241.2 cm(3) in those without steatohepatitis (P < .001). Higher total volume of the liver (odds ratio of 1.005; 95% confidence interval, 1.001-1.010; P = .012) and total liver volumeto-standard liver volume ratio (odds ratio of 1.090; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-1.163; P = .009) were independent predictors of steatohepatitis. A cutoff value of 1531 cm(3) for total liver volume was a predictor of presence of steatohepatitis in liver biopsies of donors (sensitivity = 83%; specificity = 71%; area under the curve = 0.809; P < .001). Conclusions: Computed tomography volumetry may be considered as an auxiliary noninvasive method for estimation of hepatic steatosis/steatohepatitis and may be used as a guide to select donor candidates for liver biopsy.