Abstract
Liver size is an important component in the diagnosis and follow-up of diffuse liver disease when testing for liver disease using ultrasonography. However, difficulties lies in determining the presence of hepatomegaly and liver atrophy because the method used for measuring liver size differs from one examiner to another and there is no relevant standard based on body build. The present study aims to propose a more objective method for liver size measurement and a reference range based on body build. A total of 260 normal adults (130 males, 130 females) participated in the study. Ultrasonography was performed in all participants to measure the size of the right lobe, left lobe, quadrate lobe, and caudate lobe of liver. Based on Physique Index(PI), a value derived from multiplying weight(kg) by height($m^2$), size of physique was divided into three groups including Group I with PI<150, Group II with $150{\leq}PI{\leq}250$, and Group III with PI>250. Thus, mean liver size by PI and a reference range with 95% reliability were suggested. The superoinferior diameter of right lobe was $12.34{\pm}1.18cm$ in males and $11.07{\pm}0.93cm$ in females, and its reference range was 10.64~11.0cm for Group I, 11.78~12.12cm for Group II, and 13.02~13.84cm for Group III. The anteroposterior diameter(T) of left lobe was $5.93{\pm}1.09cm$ in males and $5.18{\pm}0.99cm$ in females, and its reference range was 4.77~5.17cm for Group I, 5.49~5.79cm for Group II, and 6.68~7.44cm for Group III. The transverse diameter was $3.51{\pm}0.60cm$ in male participants and $3.42{\pm}0.49cm$ in female participants and its reference range was 3.29~3.51cm for Group I, 3.36~3.55cm for Group II, and 3.52~4.0cm for Group III. The caudate lobe index was $11.65{\pm}2.88cm^2$ in males and $9.62{\pm}2.18cm^2$ in females and its reference range was $8.83{\sim}9.75cm^2$ for Group I, $10.62{\sim}11.47cm^2$ for Group II, and $11.89{\sim}14.26cm^2$ for Group III. As a basic measurement method of liver size, the present study suggests measuring the superoinferior diameter for right liver lobe, the anteroposterior diameter for left liver lobe, the transverse diameter for quadrate lobe, and the caudate lobe index for caudate lobe. It is expected that this method along with its relevant reference range can be used as useful indicators in determining hepatomegaly and liver atrophy upon the diagnosis and follow-up testing of diffuse liver disease.
