Ultrasonography of the Pediatric Spleen: a Pictorial Essay

Overview

Journal J Ultrasound

Publisher Springer

Specialty Radiology

Date 2018 Nov 18

PMID 30446947

Citations 8

Authors

Marco Di Serafino

Francesco Verde

Federica Ferro

Norberto Vezzali

Eugenio Rossi

Ciro Acampora

Iacopo Valente

Piernicola Pelliccia

Stefania Speca

Gianfranco Vallone

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In infants and children, the spleen is involved in many pathological processes, whether those processes are isolated or related to systemic diseases. Pathology of the pediatric spleen includes congenital anomalies, splenomegaly, trauma, focal lesions, infarction, and tumors. Ultrasonography (US) is a widely available, fast, noninvasive imaging technique to assess the size, shape, and position of the spleen, as well as to define splenic echotexture. US is capable of screening for splenic disorders without the risk of ionizing radiation; it is the initial imaging examination performed to evaluate suspected splenic pathology, providing clinicians with helpful decisional support. US plays an important role in the detection of even very small amounts of hemoperitoneum, a herald of significant abdominal organ injury, in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma. Moreover, contrast-enhanced US may allow early detection of splenic injuries, ideally minimizing children's risk from radiation exposure. This pictorial essay illustrates the normal ultrasound appearance of the pediatric spleen and the sonographic findings which may guide clinicians to a correct diagnosis of pathologic conditions.

Citing Articles

Spontaneous splenic rupture in a neonate: a case report and literature review.

Schwartz K, Krishnasarma R, Snyder E, Pruthi S, Johnstone L, Foust A Emerg Radiol. 2024; 31(1):117-122.

PMID: 38231379 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-024-02199-0.

Incidental Focal Spleen Lesions: Integrated Imaging and Pattern Recognition Approach to the Differential Diagnosis.

Corvino A, Granata V, Tafuri D, Cocco G, Catalano O Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(15).

PMID: 37568899 PMC: 10416953. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13152536.

Torsion of the Accessory Spleen in a Child With Acute Abdomen.

Cakmak 2nd M, Akyel N Cureus. 2023; 15(5):e38643.

PMID: 37288173 PMC: 10243378. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38643.

Ultrasonographic atlas of splenic lesions.

Choi G, Kim K, Lee J, Park Y, Lee J, Choi J Ultrasonography. 2022; 41(2):416-429.

PMID: 35045593 PMC: 8942726. DOI: 10.14366/usg.21189.

Preoperative Diagnosis of a Torsioned Accessory Spleen.

Yoshida M, Saida T, Masuoka S, Urushibara A, Chiba F, Masumoto K J Med Ultrasound. 2021; 29(2):116-118.

PMID: 34377643 PMC: 8330679. DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_35_20.

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