Assessment of liver size by ultrasonography. Issue 7 (17th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Patzak, Monika; Porzner, Marc; Oeztuerk, Suemeyra; Mason, Richard Andrew; Wilhelm, Manfred; Graeter, Tilmann; Kratzer, Wolfgang; Haenle, Mark Martin; Akinli, Atilla Serif; and the EMIL Study Group
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical ultrasound. Volume 42:Issue 7(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 404
• Publication Date: 2014-03-17
• Subjects: Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-2751

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="jcu22151-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>To determine liver span sonographically in a randomly selected population sample and identify factors that affect liver size.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22151-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 1, 789 subjects (963 females, 826 males; mean age 41.8 ± 12.8 years) underwent sonographic examination of the liver in the midclavicular line to determine liver span. Subjects underwent physical examination and blood tests and completed a standardized interview questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22151-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The average liver span in the midclavicular line for the overall collective was 15.0 ± 1.5 cm; the average for females was 14.9 ± 1.6 cm and 15.1 ± 1.5 cm for males. Liver span exceeded 16 cm in 24.3% of subjects. Results of the multivariate analysis showed that, of the factors potentially influencing liver span, gender, age, body mass index, body height, fatty liver (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001), waist‐to‐hip ratio (<italic>p</italic> = 0.015), and metabolic syndrome (<italic>p</italic> = 0.032) are significant. By contrast, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, physical activity, and laboratory findings showed no influence.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22151-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Sonographic measurement of liver span in the midclavicular line is a simple method for routine clinical use. Gender, age, body mass index, waist‐to‐hip ratio, body height, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome are factors associated with liver span. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <italic>J Clin Ultrasound</italic> 42:399–404, 2014</p> </sec> </abstract>