Sectional anatomy and CT study of the caudate lobe of the liver

Objective:To provide anatomic data for imaging diagnosis of diseases happened in the caudate lobe of liver. Methods:The serial abdominal cross-sectional specimens came from 30 adult cadavers,and abdominal CT images from 30 normal adults were collected. Among them,4 cross-sections containing the caude lobe were selected and studied respectively. The corrseponding height between the caudate lobe and vertebral column,the position and morphology of caudate lobe,the surrounding relations of it,and other data were observed and measured. Results:The caudate lobe of the liver could be completely showed at the level of T10～L1. The fissure for the ligament venosum and the inferior vena cava located at the anterior and posterior aspects of the caudate lobe which can be served to guide the caudate lobe at all cross-sections. The cranial cross-sections looked like hook-shaped while caudal cross-sections tongue-shaped. The papillary process separated from the liver in 23.33% (7/30) sectional specimens and in 16.67% (5/30) CT images. Conclusions:There is no difference of the measured values between the sectional specimens and CT images. There is correlation between the maximal transverse diameter of the caudate lobe and the right lobe of the liver on the first prota hepatic layer.