The present study was done with two aims. First, to evaluate the radiographic measurements of liver volumes in normal and hepatomegaly dogs induced by carbon tetrachloride.
Second, to investigate quantitative tissue echo pattern by ultrasonography. Gray level histogram of the normal liver and the kidney were estimated with carbon tetra-chloride intoxication.
In normal, r-square for liver volume to body weight was 0.93372, and this showed direct linear regression. Gray level histograms of the normal liver and the kidney were 19.150±2.490(mean±SD) and 13.175±2.686(mean±SD) respectively(p $lt; 0.01). Liver parenchymal echogenicity was more hyperechogenic than kidney cortex echogenicity. Liver/Kidney ratio was 1.504±0.313 and it can be used relative comparison of liver and kidney parenchymal echogenicity.
In carbon-tetrachloride(CCl₄) intoxication, changes of liver volume appeared to increase up to 24 hours after administration (p $lt; 0.05), and decreased gradually to normal level after 2-5 days. Gray level histogram of liver parenchyma decreased up to 24hours (p $lt; 0.01) after intoxication and then gradually increased to normal level. But that of kidney cortex had no significant change. Liver/Kidney ratio also decreased by 2 days(p $lt; 0.01) and then gradually increased to normal level.
On histopathologic features of hepatic tissues in carbon tetrachloride intoxication, both coagulative necrosis of hepatic cell and hemorrhage of centrilobular & midzonal area were identified.
Conclusively, plain radiography is a useful diagnostic method for evaluating liver volume in mild hepatomegaly. Especially, it is considered that an adequate numerical processing of the liver length, depth and thoracic width and depth measurement would be helpful. Using gray level histogram, ultrasonographic evaluation was useful objective methods in early diagnosis of diffuse hepatic disease.
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