EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LIVER AND SPLEEN VOLUMES BY THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS USING THE CAVALIERI PRINCIPLE

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Background. The increased pressure in the splenic vein is the main cause of the increase of the liver volume. Thus, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly often appear together. It could be proportional relation between spleen and liver sizes. Aim. In this study, we aimed to estimate the liver and spleen volumes of healthy individuals onthe computed tomography (CT) images using the Cavalieri principle of sterelogical methods and determine the proportional relation between them. Material and Methods. This study was approved by the Ondokuz Mayis University Ethics Committee. The liver and spleen volumes measurements were performed in 45 individuals (21 males and 24 females), without pathologies in the abdomen. Female and male average ages (±SD) were 56.71±11.11 and 53.08±17.97 years, the heights were 1.59±0.11 and 1.76±0.09 meters in length and the weights were 77.33±21.49 and 86.04±17.56 kg. Each subjects scanned by CT in axialdirection and the section thickness was 1 mm. Images were transferred to the ImageJ software and the sectional cut surfaces of the liver and spleen were measured using the planimetry and the volumes of them were estimated using the Cavalieri principle. Results and Discussion. Body mass indexes (±SD) were 30.95±10.14 and 27.72±5.51, for women and men, respectively. The liver volumes of the females and males were 1570.91±354.36 and 1778.54±343.46 cm³, respectively. The spleen volume measurements were 288.81±157.27 and 408.15±274.44 cm³, respectively. Conclusions. It was determined that there was a significant positive correlation between the liver and spleen volumes in male and female subjects (r=0.565, p≤0.05 and r=0.352, p≤0.05, respectively).