Multidetector CT evaluation of potential right lobe living donors for liver transplantation

Abstract

Introduction: Living donor liver transplantation is increasingly being used to help compensate for the increasing shortage of cadaveric liver grafts. However, the extreme variability of the hepatic vascular systems can impede this surgical procedure.
Aim of the work: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the role of multidetector CT (MDCT) in evaluation of potential right lobe living donors for liver transplantation.
Methods: The study included twenty-five liver donors in pre-operative assessment before liver transplantation. Triphasic abdominal MDCT. Post-processing techniques including multiplanner reformation (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR).
Results: Twenty donors had Michels type I variant, one donor with type Michels type II, while the remaining four had Michels type III. Sixteen donors had dominant right hepatic vein, five had late confluence of the middle hepatic vein; while remaining four donors had dominant middle hepatic vein. Twenty donors had type A portal vein branching, while the remaining five had type B portal vein branching. The percentage of right hepatic lobe for the whole liver volume ranging from 40% to 55%.
Conclusion: Multidetector CT provides important information in evaluation of potential living donors for liver transplantation.