Relationship of the Presence of the Inferior Right Hepatic Vein with the Right Hepatic Vein Diameter and CT Liver Volumetry

Abstract

Background Right hepatic venous anatomy, right lobe volume, and percentage of remnant liver are issues to be considered in preoperative planning especially transplantation. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the presence of the inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) with the right hepatic vein (RHV) diameter, right lobe volume, and percentage of remnant liver. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, the computed tomography (CT) images of 90 patients who underwent triphasic CT for being living liver donation were evaluated retrospectively. The number and diameter of IRHVs and the diameter of main RHV were recorded. For the liver volume analysis, a deep learning-based automatic liver segmentation (Hepatic VCAR) program was used. A virtual hepatectomy plane was drawn, where the right and left liver volumes were found and the percentage of the left lobe to the total liver volume was calculated. Pearson's correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis and Student's t-test was used to compare parameters. Results A total of 74 IRHVs were detected in 53 (58.88%) of 90 patients. There were no differences in the percentage of remnant left lobe volume, right lobe volume, and RHV diameter between the IRHV (+) and (−) groups. The RHV diameter had a weak negative correlation with the IRHV diameter, and a weak positive correlation with the right lobe volume. Conclusions The percentage of remnant left lobe volume, right lobe volume, and RHV diameter did not differ in liver donors with and without an IRHV. The RHV diameter had a weak negative correlation with the IRHV diameter and a weak positive correlation with the right lobe volume.

Keywords

• ct liver volumetry
• deep learning-based automatic liver segmentation
• inferior right hepatic vein
• living donor liver transplantation