Harbin'S Index: Morphological Evaluation Of Caudate-To-Right Lobe Ratio In Human Cadaveric Liver

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is essentially an end stage liver fibrosis that develops as a continuation of normal wound healing in response to chronic liver injury. While 1/4th of cirrhotic livers are morphologically normal in size and configuration, on computerized tomography, over 1/3rd are diffusely atrophic and almost 50% manifest focal hypertrophy most commonly in the caudate lobe concomitant with segmental atrophy of the right lobe. Aims and Objectives: To analyze the morphometric measurements of the right lobe and determine the C/RL in human cadaveric liver and compare the values of C/RL ratio to previously documented studies in an attempt to provide baseline data. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 100 human cadaveric livers at Anatomy Department, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat. Morphometric measurements were observed in mm with threads and digital Vernier Caliper. Results: The transverse diameter of the right lobe averaged 78.22 +/- 12.17 mm, with values ranging at 55.06-98.30 mm. The longitudinal diameter of the right lobe averaged 126.31 +/- 20.24 with values ranging at 90.54-172.18 mm. Harbin's Index was calculated as the ratio of the CT to right lobe, i.e., (CT/RT), and averaged 0.38 +/- 0.12 with values ranging at 0.17-0.61. Discussion and Conclusion: While nodular regeneration within liver parenchyma may be difficult to recognize on ultrasonography and any irregularity of the liver surface may be apparent only with macro nodules or ascitic effusion, caudate lobe hypertrophy is a consistent finding with liver cirrhosis or other chronic liver disease.