Aim: To assess the validity of standard liver volume (SLV) calculated using various formulae in the Indian population.
Methods: Data on liver weights of 366 cadavers with no intrinsic liver disease were obtained retrospectively from autopsy records. From these, liver volume (LV) was calculated using the density of formalin-preserved livers, measured prospectively in 15 livers. These volumes were compared with SLV estimated using various formulae.
Results: The liver density was found to be 1.162 kg/L. Median (range) age of 366 autopsied cadavers (M:F = 274:92) was 49 [18-70] years. Median (range) body surface area (BSA) and LV was 1.66 (1.25-2.12) square meter and 1,205 (685.3-2102) cc, respectively. There was poor agreement between LV obtained from autopsy data and SLV estimated using formulae derived from the Indians (Indian Model 1: ICC = -0.069, p = 0.655; Indian Model 2: ICC = -0.07015, p = 0.879; Indian Model 3: ICC = -0.06253, p = 0.043), Koreans (ICC = -0.07114, p = <0.0001), Chinese (ICC = -0.0286, p = <0.0001) and Johnson Model (ICC = -0.05764, p = <0.0001). Median difference between the actual LV and SLV as estimated by the Indian Models 1 and 2 are least (29 cc and 6 cc, respectively) and this was followed by Johnson and the Korean Models (149.9 cc and 158.7 cc, respectively). Median difference was the highest with the Indian Model 3 (475.9 cc), followed by Chinese Model (-209.8 cc).
Conclusions: There is poor correlation between the total LV and SLV obtained by various formulae and none are valid in assessing SLV in Indian population.