Objective To explore the correlation between liver volume variation of posthepatitic cirrhosis patients and the severity of the disease. Methods One hundred and eleven patients with normal livers and 74 posthepatitic cirrhosis patients underwent volume CT scan. The relation between normal liver volume and body height, body weight and body surface area was studied by linear regression and correlation method, the standard liver volume equation was deduced. The change ratio of liver volume in cirrhotic patients was calculated and compared with Child classification. Results The mean normal liver volume of Chinese adults was （1 225.15±216.23） cm3, there was a positive correlation between liver volume and body height, body weight 〔liver volume (cm3)=12.712×body weight (kg)+450.44〕 and body surface area 〔liver volume (cm3)=876.02×body surface area (m2)-297.17〕. The mean liver volume of Child A, B and C patients were （1 077.77±347.01） cm3, (1 016.35±348.60) cm3 and (805.73±208.85) cm3 respectively. The liver volume and liver volume index was significantly smaller in Child C patients than those in Child A and B patients (P＜0.05); while liver volume change ratio was higher in Child C patients (P＜0.05). Conclusion Liver volume variation of cirrhotic patients can be quantitatively assessed by 16 slices helical CT volume measurement and standard liver volume equation. The change of the liver volume is correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.
Objective To evaluate the outcome of liver transplantation in patients with recurrent liver cancer after resection. Methods Data of 23 patients underwent liver transplantation for recurrent liver cancer from April 2001 to March 2008 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results Previous history of liver resection had little negative effect in subsequent liver transplantation in technical aspect. Liver function recovered uneventfully after transplantation in all cases. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) recovered to normal value in 13 of 17 cases with elevated AFP before transplantation within one month after operation. Five cases (21.74%) had postoperative complications. Nineteen cases (82.61%) were followed up, average follow-up duration were 610 days. There were 5 cases (26.32%) of cancer recurrence and 6 deaths during follow-up, survival rate was 68.42%. Conclusion Liver transplantation is a reasonable treatment for recurrent liver cancer after resection.