LIVER-REGENERATION IN MAN - A PROSPECTIVECT VOLUMETRIC STUDY

To get reliable data on human liver regeneration we performed CT volum etry in 25 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for benign and m alignant liver tumours preoperatively and at least one year postoperat ively in regular intervals in a prospective study. All patients receiv ed standardised CT-scans preoperatively and two weeks, 3,6, and 12 mon ths postoperatively. The resected specimen size was determined by wate r displacement. We were able to demonstrate human liver regeneration. Contrary to the well-known animal model the amout of regeneration in h umans is less and regeneration takes a longer time. We did not find an y statistical correlation to extent of resection, age of patients and other parameters. On the contrary, the human liver seems to regenerate until a certain relationship of liver volume and body-surface area is reached: 0.8 l/m2.