SEGMENTAL ANATOMY OF THE LIVER UNDER THE RIGHT DIAPHRAGMATIC DOME - EVALUATION WITH AXIAL CT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the segmental anatomy of the liver under the righ t side of the diaphragm with axial computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent CT arteriography with selec tive catheterization of the right hepatic artery in 25 cases, the left hepatic artery in 12, the anterior branch of the right hepatic artery in six, the posterior branch of the right hepatic artery in five, the superior anterior branch of the right hepatic artery in 10, and the s uperior posterior branch of the right hepatic artery in eight. RESULTS : The boundary between the right and left lobes shifted by 16.2 degree s +/- 16.8 anteriorly, and the boundary between the anterior and poste rior segments shifted by 43.9 degrees +/- 14.0 posteriorly to the line through the middle or right hepatic vein from the inferior vena cava. The top of the liver consisted of both lobes in 22 patients, only the right lobe in 17, and only the left lobe in two. Participation of seg ment 7 in the top was not demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The line that exte nds beyond the middle or right hepatic vein from the inferior vena cav a does not coincide with the main or right longitudinal scissura on ax ial images of the upper portion of the liver.