Analysis of computed tomography density of liver before and after amiodarone administration

Jpn J Radiol. 2018 May;36(5):340-344. doi: 10.1007/s11604-018-0733-4. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate CT density of liver changes between before and after amiodarone administration.

Materials and methods: Twenty-five patients underwent non-enhanced CT including the liver before and after amiodarone administration. We set regions of interest (ROIs) at liver S8, spleen, paraspinal muscle, and calculated average CT density in these ROIs, then compared CT density between liver and other organs. Statistical differences between CT density of liver and various ratios before and after administration were determined, along with correlations between cumulative dose of amiodarone and liver density after administration, density change of liver, and various ratios after administration.

Results: Liver density, liver-to-spleen ratio, and liver-to-paraspinal muscle ratio differed significantly between before and after amiodarone administration. No significant correlations were found between cumulative doses of amiodarone and any of liver density after administration, density change of liver, or various ratios after administration.

Conclusion: CT density of liver after amiodarone administration was significantly higher than that before administration. No correlations were identified between cumulative dose of amiodarone and either liver density after administration or density change of liver. Amiodarone usage should be checked when radiologists identify high density of the liver on CT.

Keywords: Amiodarone; CT density of liver; Computed tomography.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amiodarone / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Spleen / diagnostic imaging
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Amiodarone