Purpose
There is evidencein published literaturediscussing the benefit of utilizing liver window settings in addition to the conventional soft tissue window settings in diagnostic abdominal CT imaging. It is uncertain how these benefits are being utlilsed.
The aim of this study is to determine whether liver window settings are being utilised and if this is done routinely or selectively when reviewing abdominal CT examinations, including the justification for these decisions.
Furthermore, the benefits will be explored by reviewing published evidence-based studies.
Methods and materials
A cover letter and questionnaire was distributed amongst Radiologists and Radiology Registrars working within the medical imaging departments of The Prince of Wales Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and St George Hospital in New South Wales.
This was distributed in a standardised hard copyor electronic format.
Participants were asked to complete the closed-response questionnaire, followed by invitation to comment.
There were 46 responses, 25/46 Radiology Registrars and 21/46 Radiologists. 2 Radiologists had less than 10 years of experience, 5 had 10 to 20 years of experience...
Results
All of the Specialised Abdominal and Oncology Radiologists stated they used the liver window setting, two thirds of the remaining Radiologists used them and just under half of the Registrars used the settings.
No sites provided liver reconstructions made by the performing Radiographer with any abdominal CT examinations. Lung base reconstructions are however provided on selected examinations.
Half of the total respondents stated they used a specific window setting when reviewing abdominal CT examinations.
Some manually reconstructed the liver windows and adjusted the window width...
Conclusion
There are several evidence-based review articles in published literature discussing the added benefits of utilising CT liver window settings in abdominal CT imaging. There may be limited benefits in adding CT liver window settings routinely, however, the relevant literature suggests that liver window settings are of benefit in patients where there is a high clinical index of suspicion of hepatic disease.
Our survey demonstrated that liver window settings were only used by half of the respondents.
It was interesting to note that the more experienced...
References
Dang T, Mandarano G. A review of the benefits and rationale of viewing liver window settings for abdominal computed tomography scans. The Radiographer. 2006 April: 53 (1): 1 12–19.
Mayo-Smith WW, Gupta H, Ridlen MS, Brody JM, Clements NC, Cronan JJ. Detecting hepatic lesions: the added utility of CT liver window settings. Radiological Society of North America. 1999 March 1; 210(3): 601–604.
Sahi K, Jackson S, Wiebe E, et al. The Value of ‘‘Liver Windows’’ Settings in the Detection of Small Renal Cell Carcinomas on...