Correlationships between Liver Function Tests and Morphometric Cytological Parameters in Liver Cirrhosis

Katsuhisa Tsuji¹⁾, Akio Ishikawa¹⁾, Mikio Doi²⁾, Akira osada¹⁾, yuuki yamamato¹⁾, Katashi Fukao¹⁾, Einosuke Tanaka³⁾, Masayuki Nakano⁴⁾

Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicinet¹⁾ and Institute of Community Medicine³⁾, University of Tsukuba, Department of Pathology, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital²⁾ and The Research Center for Pathologic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University⁴⁾

Significance of morphometric cytological study using computerized, color image analyzer was attempted by comparing conventional liver function tests including indocyanine green clearance test (ICGR15). Multiple biopsies were taken from the noncancerous portion of the liver during hepatectomy in 16 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The morphological study of the liver, based on various parameters which are characteristic of liver cirrhosis, such as Ratio of hepatic parenchymal area and Hepatic cells per unit area including Hepatic volume, Hepatic parenchymal volume, Hepatic cell volume and Total hepatic cell volume, was performed. Hepatic volume was calculated by Ct scans of the liver. Total hepatic cells volume was calculated by multiplying these parameters. We compared these morphometric cytological parameters with the levels of ICGR15 and the liver function test (albumin, total bilirubin and prothrombin time). A significant correlation was found between ICGR15 and Ratio of hepatic parenchymal area (r=-0.506, p<0.01), Hepatic cells per unit area (r=-0.655, p<0.003) and Hepatic cells volume (r=-0.620, p<0.01). Total hepatic cells volume, which is the good index of the normal parenchymal cells volume in the liver, did not show a signficant correlationship with ICGR15 or liver function tests. Therefore, we though that the morphological changes of hepatic parenchyma by using computerized color image analyzer can be reflected in ICGR15 which is considered as one of the test for the function volume of the liver.

Key words
morphometric cytological findings of the hepatic parenchyma, liver function test, hepatic functional reserve, liver cirrhosis, Hepatectomy

Reprint requests
Akio Ishikawa Department of surgery, University of Tsukuba
2-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, 305 JAPAN

Accepted
July 6, 1994

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