Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Cirrhosis leads to characteristic morphological changes in the liver, including hypertrophy of the caudate lobe and atrophy of the right lobe. The Caudate-to-right Lobe Ratio (CRLR), measurable on Computed Tomography (CT), has been proposed as a non-invasive imaging biomarker of cirrhosis severity and prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the utility of CRLR in assessing liver disease severity and predicting clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients. A retrospective study was conducted on 45 patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed cirrhosis who underwent CT imaging. Measurements of the caudate and right hepatic lobes were taken to calculate the CRLR. Clinical parameters and the presence of complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to assess correlations between CRLR and clinical severity indicators. CRLR was significantly higher in patients with more advanced cirrhosis. Patients with a CRLR of $0.6 showed a higher frequency of complications, including portal hypertension, ascites and variceal bleeding (p<0.05). These patients also experienced more frequent liver decompensation and had a poorer overall prognosis compared to those with lower CRLR values. The findings support the use of CRLR as a non-invasive imaging marker to help assess the severity and progression of cirrhosis. The caudate-to-right lobe ratio, as assessed on CT, is a reliable, non-invasive marker of cirrhosis severity and is predictive of adverse clinical outcomes. CRLR can aid in risk stratification, disease monitoring and clinical decisionmaking in patients with cirrhosis. Further prospective studies are needed to validate its use in routine clinical practice.
How to cite this article:
O.C. Assvath, L. Antlin Sushma and S. Vinod. Caudate-to-Right Lobe Ratio in Imaging of Cirrhosis: A Marker of Disease Severity and Prognosis.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/makrjms.2024.12.807.810
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/makrjms.2024.12.807.810