Abstract
Background / Objective
Abnormalities of the spleen are relatively uncommon but frequently encountered by ultrasound practitioners during routine abdominal scans. Conventional grey-scale and Doppler ultrasound often fail to accurately characterize focal splenic lesions, even when supplemented with clinical and laboratory data. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) offers a simple, cost-effective, and safe alternative that typically provides valuable additional information. It aids in achieving a definitive diagnosis or a focused differential diagnosis, and helps differentiate between lesions requiring further imaging or biopsy and those suitable for follow-up. CEUS is also useful in confirming accessory splenic tissue and assessing trauma-related splenic injuries.
Methods
This case series includes nine patients with focal splenic lesions evaluated at our center using conventional B-mode ultrasound and CEUS. Imaging characteristics of various lesions—including hemangiomas, splenic infarctions, lacerations, abscesses, granulomatous disease, and lymphoproliferative disease—were reviewed to assess the added value of CEUS.
Results
CEUS provided more detailed and accurate information compared to conventional ultrasound, significantly improving the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant splenic lesions. The use
of refined diagnostic criteria could make CEUS a viable alternative to more invasive or expensive imaging techniques, such as CT or MRI.
Conclusions
Splenic abnormalities are rare and often asymptomatic, making careful evaluation essential during abdominal ultrasounds. Conventional grey-scale ultrasound struggles to characterize focal lesions, but CEUS significantly improves diagnostic accuracy. Benign lesions typically show no enhancement or persistent late-phase enhancement, while malignancies often display arterial phase hypoenhancement and late-phase washout, prompting further imaging or biopsy when necessary. As a safe, cost-effective tool, CEUS adds valuable diagnostic capability to a radiologists arsenal.
Abnormalities of the spleen are relatively uncommon but frequently encountered by ultrasound practitioners during routine abdominal scans. Conventional grey-scale and Doppler ultrasound often fail to accurately characterize focal splenic lesions, even when supplemented with clinical and laboratory data. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) offers a simple, cost-effective, and safe alternative that typically provides valuable additional information. It aids in achieving a definitive diagnosis or a focused differential diagnosis, and helps differentiate between lesions requiring further imaging or biopsy and those suitable for follow-up. CEUS is also useful in confirming accessory splenic tissue and assessing trauma-related splenic injuries.
Methods
This case series includes nine patients with focal splenic lesions evaluated at our center using conventional B-mode ultrasound and CEUS. Imaging characteristics of various lesions—including hemangiomas, splenic infarctions, lacerations, abscesses, granulomatous disease, and lymphoproliferative disease—were reviewed to assess the added value of CEUS.
Results
CEUS provided more detailed and accurate information compared to conventional ultrasound, significantly improving the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant splenic lesions. The use
of refined diagnostic criteria could make CEUS a viable alternative to more invasive or expensive imaging techniques, such as CT or MRI.
Conclusions
Splenic abnormalities are rare and often asymptomatic, making careful evaluation essential during abdominal ultrasounds. Conventional grey-scale ultrasound struggles to characterize focal lesions, but CEUS significantly improves diagnostic accuracy. Benign lesions typically show no enhancement or persistent late-phase enhancement, while malignancies often display arterial phase hypoenhancement and late-phase washout, prompting further imaging or biopsy when necessary. As a safe, cost-effective tool, CEUS adds valuable diagnostic capability to a radiologists arsenal.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 8 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Oct 2024 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 9th Baltic Congress of Radiology - Riga , Latvia Duration: 17 Oct 2024 → 19 Oct 2024 https://bcr2024.lv/bcr-2024-posters/ |
Congress
| Congress | 9th Baltic Congress of Radiology |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | BCR2024 |
| Country/Territory | Latvia |
| City | Riga |
| Period | 17/10/24 → 19/10/24 |
| Internet address |
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
