Site and number of liver tumors recorded at angiography and computed tomography compared with the findings at laparotomy and of resected liver specimens

Abstract

Angiography and computed tomography (CT) were performed in 96 patients before laparotomy for an intended liver resection. Of these, 73 patients underwent liver resection, from a local excision to a trisegmentectomy. The accuracy of angiography in tumor localization was 77 per cent when the results were compared with the findings at laparotomy and from resected specimens. With CT the accuracy was 85 per cent. In 47 patients an analysis of the number of tumor nodules was possible. There were 76 nodules, and 42 (55%) were correctly identified by angiography and 58% (76%) by CT. Thirty-four tumor nodules were not seen at angiography, with the majority of these situated in the left liver lobe. At CT, 18 nodules were not observed, about equal numbers in right and left lobes. Five lesions thought to be present at angiography (9 at CT), could not be verified upon inspecting the resected specimens. Neither angiography nor CT seems to be reliable enough for an accurate prediction of resectability of liver tumors prior to laparotomy.