Hepatic attenuation on CT
Disclosures
- updated 13 Nov 2023:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
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Hepatic attenuation on CT, reflected by Hounsfield values, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.
Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU 4.
Pathology
Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.
Aetiology
Diffusely increased attenuation
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iron deposition
haemochromatosis: one paper suggests investigation for iron overload if unenhanced liver density is >75 HU 9
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copper deposition
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medications/drugs
amiodarone hepatotoxicity:
longlong-term amiodarone administration 7,8,10gold therapy 6
previous Thorotrast administration
Diffusely decreased attenuation
diffuse hepatic steatosis (diffuse fatty liver)
diffuse malignant infiltration
diffuse non-malignant infiltrative disease (e.g.hepatic amyloidosis)
-<p><strong>Hepatic attenuation on CT</strong>, reflected by <a href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">Hounsfield values</a>, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.</p><p>Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.</p><h5>Aetiology</h5><h6>Diffusely increased attenuation</h6><ul>-<li>-<p>iron deposition</p>-<ul>-<li>-<p><a href="/articles/haemosiderosis">haemosiderosis</a></p>-<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/thalassaemia">thalassaemia</a></p></li></ul>-</li>-<li><p><a href="/articles/haemochromatosis">haemochromatosis</a>: one paper suggests investigation for iron overload if unenhanced liver density is >75 HU <sup>9</sup></p></li>-</ul>-</li>-<li>-<p>copper deposition</p>-<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/wilsons-disease">Wilson disease</a></p></li></ul>-</li>-<li><p><a href="/articles/glycogen-storage-disease">glycogen storage diseases</a></p></li>-<li>-<p>medications/drugs</p>-<ul>-<li><p><a href="/articles/amiodarone-deposition-in-the-liver">amiodarone hepatotoxicity</a>: long-term amiodarone administration <sup>7,8,10</sup></p></li>-<li><p>gold therapy <sup>6</sup></p></li>-</ul>-</li>-<li><p>previous <a href="/articles/thorotrast">Thorotrast </a>administration</p></li>-</ul><h6>Diffusely decreased attenuation</h6><ul>-<li><p><a href="/articles/diffuse-hepatic-steatosis">diffuse hepatic steatosis</a> (diffuse fatty liver)</p></li>-<li><p>diffuse malignant infiltration</p></li>-<li><p>diffuse non-malignant infiltrative disease (e.g. <a href="/articles/hepatic-amyloidosis">hepatic amyloidosis</a>)</p></li>- +<p><strong>Hepatic attenuation on CT</strong>, reflected by <a href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">Hounsfield values</a>, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.</p><p>Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Several intrinsic liver pathologies can cause a diffuse change in liver attenuation with increased hepatic fat being the most prevalent.</p><h5>Aetiology</h5><h6>Diffusely increased attenuation</h6><ul>
- +<li>
- +<p>iron deposition</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li>
- +<p><a href="/articles/haemosiderosis">haemosiderosis</a></p>
- +<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/thalassaemia">thalassaemia</a></p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/haemochromatosis">haemochromatosis</a>: one paper suggests investigation for iron overload if unenhanced liver density is >75 HU <sup>9</sup></p></li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<p>copper deposition</p>
- +<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/wilsons-disease">Wilson disease</a></p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/glycogen-storage-disease">glycogen storage diseases</a></p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p>medications/drugs</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/amiodarone-deposition-in-the-liver">amiodarone hepatotoxicity</a>: long-term amiodarone administration <sup>7,8,10</sup></p></li>
- +<li><p>gold therapy <sup>6</sup></p></li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p>previous <a href="/articles/thorotrast">Thorotrast </a>administration</p></li>
- +</ul><h6>Diffusely decreased attenuation</h6><ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/diffuse-hepatic-steatosis">diffuse hepatic steatosis</a> (diffuse fatty liver)</p></li>
- +<li><p>diffuse malignant infiltration</p></li>
- +<li><p>diffuse non-malignant infiltrative disease (e.g. <a href="/articles/hepatic-amyloidosis">hepatic amyloidosis</a>)</p></li>
Images Changes:
Image 8 CT (non-contrast) ( create )
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Case 8: amiodarone deposition in the liver
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8.
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