Knowledge of diagnostic imaging for liver transplantation: Focus on pre-transplant evaluation

Abstract

Pediatric liver transplantation is an important treatment for children with end-stage liver disease. In Japan, pediatric liver transplantation has primarily advanced through use of living donor grafts. The enactment of the Organ Transplant Law in 1997 permitted organ donation after brain death, and a subsequent revision in July 2010 extended this to include donors under the age of 15. Diagnostic imaging is vital for all stages of transplantation, including brain death determination, recipient evaluation before and after surgery, and living donor assessment. The indications for pediatric liver transplantation are diverse, but biliary atresia is the most common. It is crucial to perform appropriate imaging studies based on a thorough understanding of the liver diseases indicated for transplantation, as well as the vascular and biliary anatomy necessary for the surgical procedure. This paper reviews the primary liver diseases indicated for transplantation and the knowledge required for preoperative evaluation of both recipients and living donors.