Segmental anatomy of the liver under the right diaphragmatic dome: evaluation with axial CT.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the segmental anatomy of the liver under the right side of the diaphragm with axial computed tomography (CT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-six patients underwent CT arteriography with selective catheterization of the right hepatic artery in 25 cases, the left hepatic artery in 12, the anterior branch of the right hepatic artery in six, the posterior branch of the right hepatic artery in five, the superior anterior branch of the right hepatic artery in 10, and the superior posterior branch of the right hepatic artery in eight.

RESULTS

The boundary between the right and left lobes shifted by 16.2 degrees +/- 16.8 anteriorly, and the boundary between the anterior and posterior segments shifted by 43.9 degrees +/- 14.0 posteriorly to the line through the middle or right hepatic vein from the inferior vena cava. The top of the liver consisted of both lobes in 22 patients, only the right lobe in 17, and only the left lobe in two. Participation of segment 7 in the top was not demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

The line that extends beyond the middle or right hepatic vein from the inferior vena cava does not coincide with the main or right longitudinal scissura on axial images of the upper portion of the liver.