Sonographic Measurement of Spleen in Relation to Age: A Prospective Study among Adult Nepalese People in Western Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen which is a quite common problem in any part of the world. Spleen is enlarged in various clinical disorders e.g. infections, metabolism or storage disor­ders and hematological abnormalities. Splenomegaly is an indicator of pathologic process that may be of primary splenic origin but also may be a reflection of disease in virtually any other organ system. Thus, it is important to estimate the splenic size in vivo in the diagnosis, treat­ment and prognosis of a variety of disorders.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the normal dimension of the spleen in the adult Nepalese people.Methods: This is a prospective study in which 320 adults subjects were scanned by using 3.5 MHz curvilinear probe. We used ultrasonography to examine 160 males and 160 females, not to have any condition likely to be associated with splenic enlargement. The measurement for the length and thickness of spleen were obtained in right lateral position.Results: This study revealed the splenic dimensions for males were greater than in females. The men spleen length were (10.07 ±0.7 cm, 10.1 ±0.54 cm, 9.5 ±0.7 cm and 9.0 ±0.43 cm for age group of 16 - 30, 31 - 45, 46 - 60 and 61 - 75 years respectively). The females spleen length were (9.83 ±0.53 cm, 9.58 ±0.58cm, 9.2 ±0.64 cm and 8.8 ±0.36 cm for age group of 16 - 30, 31 - 45, 46 - 60 and 61 - 75 years respec­tively). The men spleen thickness were more (4.1 ±0.5 cm, 4.05 ±0.58 cm, 3.43 ±0.38 cm and 3.0 ±0.36 cm for age group of 16 - 30, 31 - 45, 46 - 60 and 61 - 75 years respectively). The females splenic thickness were 4.06 ±0.47 cm, 3.78 ±0.48 cm, 3.38 ±0.35 cm and 2.29 ±0.23 cm for age group of 16 - 30, 31 - 45, 46 - 60 and 61 - 75 years respectively. Thus significant differences between male and female splenic dimen­sions were found for each age group chosen (P <0.05).Conclusions: The results show that the splenic length and thickness decreased with increase in age in both males and females and all the di­mensions were greater in males than in females. This study established normogram that can be more reliably used as both a complementary modality to clinical evaluation and as a more sensitive means of evalu­ating and screening patients for splenic disorders for any pathologi­cal enlargement or reduction of size in clinical practice in a Nepalese populations.Journal of Gandaki Medical College Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, page: 11-16

Morphometric Assessment of Spleen Dimensions and Its Correlates Among Individual Living in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia

“…The sonography assessment of spleen dimensions provides essential inputs for clinicians in daily clinical practice for proper diagnosis of splenomegaly (32,44,(53)(54)(55). The result of this study gives reference values which helps radiologist for appropriate diagnosis of diseases associated to splenomegaly and splenic atrophy, for the surgeons to appropriately design surgical cases associated to spleen, for hematologist and immunologist for proper diagnosis of various gastrointestinal and hematological diseases and forensic studies (56)(57)(58)(59).…”

Morphometric Assessment of the Normal Dimensions of the Adult Spleen in North-west Ethiopia Region – A Radiological Study

“…Despite, spleen length variation, this finding not contradict the clinical guidelines set the upper limit and similar with previous literature which were done in different population. [15][16][17][18] The width of spleen in present study varies from 2.4 cm to 7.3 cm and with mean spleen width of male was 4.6±0.9 cm whereas in female was 4.0±0.6 cm. This finding agreed with African report and study done in Nepal and India.…”

“…But, the African report of spleen thickness higher than the present finding. [10,15] The possible reasons for the dimensional variation of spleen may be genetic factors and sociodemographic factors. An ultrasound base study done in an endemic tropical environment reported the mean splenic volume of 202.7 cm3 and 153.7 cm3 in male and female subjects, respectively.…”

“…[14] The standard normal range of spleen size in the population is a prerequisite for correct interpretation. [15] Northwest Ethiopia is an endemic zone for malaria, kala-azar and other infectious diseases affecting children as well as adults causing various ranges of splenomegaly. Hence, it is utmost important to establish the normal range of spleen size in adults of Northwest Ethiopia to assess splenomegaly in all disease conditions affecting the spleen.…”

Sexual Dimorphism in the Dimensions of Spleen in the Population of North-West Ethiopia – An Observational Radiographic Study

“…However, all splenic dimensional measurements were greater in males than females. [10] Similarly, report from Eastern Nepal indicated that the mean spleen length, width and thickness of male were 9.8±1.18 cm, 4.9±0.9 cm and 3.89±0.62 cm respectively; however, the mean spleen length, width and thickness of female were 9.2±1.26 cm, 4.43±0. [11] cm and 3.46±0.6 cm, respectively.…”