Computed tomographic angiography of the liver via the coeliac axis.

Sixty computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) examinations of the liver were performed with contrast injection into the coeliac axis. Data from both an arterial and a portal venous phase were recorded. In 41 patients it was possible to compare the results of CTA with palpation of the liver during laparotomy. The results from CTA and laparotomy were the same in 35 patients (85%). In one patient CTA disclosed verified liver lesions not diagnosed at laparotomy. There were 2 false negative and 3 false positive CTA examinations. In the remaining 19 patients, a clinical follow-up period of at least 6 months was used to evaluate the results of CTA. In the 7 patients in whom CTA showed benign lesions or a normal liver parenchyma, the clinical follow-up revealed no evidence of tumour growth in the liver.