Cirrhosis CT

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vishnu Vardhan Serla M.B.B.S. [2], Sudarshana Datta, MD [3]

Overview

Although CT scans are not routinely used in evaluation and diagnosis of cirrhosis, it may show the presence of lobar atrophic and hypertrophic changes in the liver, ascites and varices. CT scans also visualize the presence of tumors, blocked bile ducts and help evaluate the size of the liver.

Computed tomography is not routinely used in the diagnosis and evaluation of cirrhosis.
Computed tomography (CT) scanning complements ultrasound imaging.
CT scan is poor at detecting morphologic changes associated with early cirrhosis, but may accurately demonstrate nodularity and lobar atrophic and hypertrophic changes, ascites and varices in advanced disease.
CT findings may suggest the presence of cirrhosis, but is not diagnostic.
CT portal phase imaging may be used in the assesment of patency of the portal vein.^[1]
CT may be indicative of underlying etiology due to its classical appearances in some diseases:
- Budd-Chiari syndrome: hypertrophied caudate lobe
- Haemochromatosis: excess iron deposition leads to a dramatic increase in hepatic density

CT of a cirrhotic patient shows a liver with a shrunken, nodular appearance.
Ascites and splenomegaly may also be seen in patients with complications of cirrhosis.