Hepatic attenuation on CT
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
Hepatic attenuation on CT, reflected by Hounsfield values, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.
Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU 4.
Pathology
Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.
Aetiology
Diffusely increased attenuation
- iron deposition
- haemosiderosis
- haemochromatosis: one paper suggests investigation for iron overload if unenhanced liver density is >75 HU 9
- copper deposition
- glycogen storage diseases
- medications/drugs
- amiodarone hepatotoxicity: long-term amiodarone administration 7,8
- gold therapy 6
- previous Thorotrast administration
Diffusely decreased attenuation
- diffuse hepatic steatosis (diffuse fatty liver)
- diffuse malignant infiltration
- diffuse non-malignant infiltrative disease (e.g. hepatic amyloidosis)
-<p><strong>Hepatic attenuation on CT</strong>, reflected by <a title="Hounsfield unit" href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">Hounsfield values</a>, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.</p><p>Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.</p><h5>Aetiology</h5><h6>Diffusely increased attenuation</h6><ul>- +<p><strong>Hepatic attenuation on CT</strong>, reflected by <a href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">Hounsfield values</a>, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.</p><p>Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.</p><h5>Aetiology</h5><h6>Diffusely increased attenuation</h6><ul>
-<li><a href="/articles/haemochromatosis">haemochromatosis</a></li>- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/haemochromatosis">haemochromatosis</a>: one paper suggests investigation for iron overload if unenhanced liver density is >75 HU <sup>9</sup>
- +</li>
References changed:
- 9. Lawrence EM, Pooler BD, Pickhardt PJ. Opportunistic Screening for Hereditary Hemochromatosis With Unenhanced CT: Determination of an Optimal Liver Attenuation Threshold. (2018) AJR. American journal of roentgenology. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.18.19690">doi:10.2214/AJR.18.19690</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30300001">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>