[Liver regeneration in man. A prospective CT-volumetric study].

To get reliable data on human liver regeneration we performed CT volumetry in 25 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for benign and malignant liver tumours preoperatively and at least one year postoperatively in regular intervals in a prospective study. All patients received standardised CT-scans preoperatively and two weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. The resected specimen size was determined by water displacement. We were able to demonstrate human liver regeneration. Contrary to the well-known animal model the amount of regeneration in humans is less and regeneration takes a longer time. We did not find any 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.