DELINEATION OF SEGMENTAL LIVER ANATOMY - COMPARISON OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY, SPIRAL CT AND MR-IMAGING FOR PREOPERATIVE LOCALIZATION OF FOCAL LIVER-LESIONS TO SPECIFIC HEPATIC SEGMENTS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of non invasive imaging methods to localize focal liver lesions to specific h epatic segments.Material and Methods: In a prospective study we evalua ted 24 patients with hepatic masses with ultrasonography (US), spiral CT and MR imaging. Results: The primary segmental location of the lesi ons was correct with US in 15 of 24 patients (63%), with CT in 21 of 2 4 patients (88%) and with MR imaging in 17 of 22 patients (77%). The f ull extent of the lesions was correctly described with US in 9 of 24 p atients (38%), with CT in 16 of 24 patients (67%) and with MR in 12 of 22 patients (55%). Conclusion: Among the noninvasive imaging methods, CT provides the best information for determining the segmental locati on and planning the surgical approach to hepatic resections.