PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF RESIDUAL LIVER-FUNCTION FOR EXTENDED HEPATIC RESECTION WITH POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY AND L-[METHYL-C-11] METHIONINE

To evaluate residual liver functional reserve before major hepatectomy , volumetry of the residual liver was measured by computed tomography (CT) and the uptake of L-[methyl-C-11] methionine of the residual live r was expressed by differential absorption ratio (DAR) with positron e mission tomography (PET). Residual liver functional volume was quantif ied as the functional volume index (FVI). FVI of 11 normal whole liver was 8697 +/- 2009 (mean S.D.). Cases, 11, of malignant liver tumors w ith obstructive jaundice underwent major hepatectomy. FVI of the eight patients (5561 +/- 1087) who had good course after operation was sign ificantly higher than that of the other cases (2665 +/- 685) died of l iver failure (P < 0.005). FVI is a useful index to quantify residual l iver functional reserve to avoid liver failure after major hepatectomy . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.