European Journal of Radiology 54 (2005) 400–407 Value of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for assessing severity of liver cirrhosis secondary to viral hepatitis O. Barutcu Saygili ∗ , N.C. Tarhan, T. Yildirim, E. Serin, B. Ozer, A.M. Agildere Departments of Radiology and Gastroenterology, Adana Research and Teaching Center, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey Received 14 June 2004; received in revised form 28 July 2004; accepted 10 August 2004 Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the value of abdominal CT and MRI in determining the severity of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis compared to Child-Pugh classification. Materialsandmethods: The study included 23 patients who were clinically and histologically diagnosed with chronic liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis. Each patient underwent dynamic abdominal CT imaging and MRI within the same week. CT and MRI findings were retrospectively reviewed. The same parameters were used from the CT and the MR images for each patient. The parameters included liver volume index (posterior segment of the right lobe, medial and lateral segments of the left lobe), spleen volume index, ascites, portosystemic collaterals, contour irregularities of the liver and confluent fibrosis within the liver. The findings were compared with the patients’ Child-Pugh grades. Multiple regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results: On MRI, liver volume index (P = 0.0001), and ascites (P = 0.009) were strongly correlated with Child-Pugh grades. With CT, only ascites was correlated with Child-Pugh grades (P = 0.002). Conclusion: This study indicates that liver volume index on MRI, and ascites on CT and MRI are good indicators of clinical severity of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis. To show the effect of the other parameters, more research is needed with larger patient groups. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Cirrhosis; MRI; CT 1. Introduction Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition that causes progres- sive liver dysfunction. When the liver finally decompensates, the patient is in end-stage liver disease. In this phase, portal hypertension develops and there is increased risk for compli- cations such as gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatocellular carcinoma [1,2]. In the stage of cirrhosis where the liver is still compensating, and particularly in cases secondary to hepati- tis C virus infection, interferon treatment can help prolong sufficient liver function. Thus, it is important to define the stage of cirrhosis in each patient, and to follow the disease progression carefully [3]. Severity of liver cirrhosis is clinically determined using the Child-Pugh classification. Radiologic evaluation is an impor- ∗ Tel.: +90 3122361055; fax: +90 3122025636. E-mail address: obarutcu@yahoo.com (O.B. Saygili). tant part of clinical follow-up in patients with chronic liver disease and its complications [4–9]. Computed tomography (CT) is more commonly used in these patients and in selected cases where needed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is performed. A few authors have investigated MRI as a method of grading the severity of cirrhosis [3,10,11], but no study to date has tested both CT and MRI for this purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the value of abdominal CT and MRI as compared with Child-Pugh classification for determining the severity of cirrhosis secondary to viral hepatitis. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study patients The study included 23 patients (13 men and 10 women; age range, 42–73 years; mean age, 58 years) who were clinically diagnosed with chronic liver disease secondary to 0720-048X/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2004.08.001