Organvolumen

Organvolumen refers to the volume occupied by a biological organ, typically expressed in cubic centimeters (cc) or liters. In anatomical and medical contexts, organ volume serves as a quantitative measure of size and, in some cases, an indirect indicator of functional capacity, though volume alone does not capture biological function, health status, or perfusion.

Volumes are most often estimated using medical imaging. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide high-resolution, three-dimensional data that enable precise volumetry through segmentation of the organ boundaries and voxel summation. Automated or semi-automated software tools are commonly used, and measurements can be reported for the whole organ or for specific lobes or segments in organs with internal subdivisions, such as the liver. Ultrasound and planar imaging methods can offer qualitative assessments but are less frequently used for exact volumetry.

Organ volumetry has several clinical and research applications. In liver transplantation, liver volumetry informs donor graft size and the future liver remnant to reduce the risk of graft dysfunction or small-for-size syndrome. In oncology, tumor volumetry tracks disease burden and response to therapy. In pediatrics and developmental biology, organ growth is monitored to assess normal development or the impact of disease. In research, changes in organ volume over time may reflect edema, atrophy, hypertrophy, or treatment effects.

Limitations include variability due to imaging modality, acquisition parameters, and segmentation methods. Patient factors such as body position, imaging slice thickness, and motion can affect accuracy. Reference values vary with age, sex, and body size, and volume may not directly translate to functional capacity without additional functional assessments.