Three-dimensional computed tomography for planning donor hepatectomy

Background. An accurate estimation of preoperative volumetric measurements of the donor liver is essential in living donor liver transplantation. Methods. Three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) was applied to 56 living donors. 3-D images of the liver were constructed using the region-growing method and the volume of each sector was measured. Results. The median volume ratios of the left liver, caudate lobe, right paramedian, and lateral sectors were 34%, 4%, 38%, and 25% of the total liver volume, respectively. The shape of the congestive area in the right paramedian sector was properly demonstrated by 3-D CT. The volume of the region corresponded to 32% of the right liver. The actual volume of the graft correlated well with the estimated graft volume (n =.86). Conclusions. The region-growing method was useful for graft selection and for determining the indication of middle hepatic vein reconstruction in right liver grafts.