Chang WC, M Yeh B, Chu L, Kim SY, Wen KW, Chiu SH, Ding CKC, Wu EH, Roberts JP, Huang GS, Hsu HH. Post-operative assessment in patients after liver transplantation: imaging parameters associated with 1-year graft failure.
Eur Radiol 2020;
31:764-774. [PMID:
32862291 DOI:
10.1007/s00330-020-07124-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To identify post-liver transplant CT findings which predict graft failure within 1 year.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated the CT scans of 202 adult liver transplants performed in our institution who underwent CT within 3 months after transplantation. We recorded CT findings of liver perfusion defect (LPD), parenchymal homogeneity, and the diameters and attenuations of the hepatic vessels. Findings were correlated to 1-year graft failure, and interobserver variability was assessed.
RESULTS
Forty-one (20.3%) of the 202 liver grafts failed within 1 year. Graft failure was highly associated with LPD (n = 18/25, or 67%, versus 15/98, or 15%, p < 0.001), parenchymal hypoattenuation (n = 20/41, or 48.8% versus 17/161, or 10.6%, p < 0.001), and smaller diameter of portal veins (right portal vein [RPV], 10.7 ± 2.7 mm versus 14.7 ± 2.2 mm, and left portal vein [LPV], 9.8 ± 3.0 mm versus 12.4 ± 2.2 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). Of these findings, LPD (hazard ratio [HR], 5.43, p < 0.001) and small portal vein diameters (HR, RPV, 3.33, p < 0.001, and LPV, 3.13, p < 0.05) independently predicted graft failure. All the measurements showed fair to moderate interobserver agreement (0.233~0.597).
CONCLUSION
For patients who have CT scan within the first 3 months of liver transplantation, findings of LPD and small portal vein diameters predict 1-year graft failure.
KEY POINTS
•Failed grafts are highly associated with liver perfusion defect, hypoattenuation, and small portal vein. •Right portal vein < 11.5 mm and left portal vein < 10.0 mm were associated with poor graft outcome. •Liver perfusion defect and small portal vein diameter independently predicted graft failure.
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