Abstract：Objective: To investigate the relation between liver rib unit numbers and Child-Pugh(C-P) grading during hepatic cirrhosis. Method: Three hundred and one cases with liver CT examination were enrolled, including 174 cirrhosis, 56 chronic hepatitis and 71 healthy controls. According to the unified evaluation criteria basing on liver rib unit numbers, the maximum number of CT-scan liver rib units was interpreted by one radiologist and two clinicians. Then, it was compared within different groups and between different C-P grading for the cirrhotic patients. The relations between CT-scan liver rib unit numbers and C-P grading in hepatic cirrhosis were analyzed. Result: The interpretations of three doctors are highly correlated. The liver rib unit number of cirrhosis(1.95±2.32) was generally smaller than that of healthy people(5.55±2.61) and chronic hepatitis(5.21±1.89). The liver rib unit numbers of A, B and C grading were respectively 2.96±2.34, 1.54±2.17 and 0.22±0.76. There was significantly statistical difference among each grading. Significant negative correlation existed between liver rib unit numbers and liver function grading(P<0.001). When the liver rib unit number was two or more, the C-P grading was mostly A. When the liver rib unit number was one or zero, the C-P grading was mostly B or C. Conclusion: The concept of liver rib unit is easy to understand and use. To predict liver cirrhosis by C-P grading could be made through analyzing the max number of liver rib units.
2015, Vol. 26 
