Pathological Changes in the Liver and Computed Tomography

Abstract

The constant form and position of the liver in the upper abdomen and its predictable relative size are properties which have been regarded as favourable for investigation of pathological changes by the use of imaging procedures. As more experience with these procedures has been gained over the past few years, confidence has grown and plans for therapy have become more and more influenced by interpretation of the images generated by the new techniques. The problem of validating such interpretations is difficult in many situations for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that with successful therapy the lesions may regress and morphological confirmation may never be available. Validation has therefore become a matter of concordance by other equally unvalidated imaging procedures [1] or agreement with clinical assessment of the patient’s state of progress [2]. If, for example, a small doubtful lesion is replaced after an interval of time by a larger and undoubted cancer, then the first image is thus confirmed.