Ultrasound of the traumatized spleen: left butterfly sign in lesions masked by echogenic blood clots.
Ultrasonic display of blood on both sides of the splenogastric ligament (left butterfly sign) in the left traumatized patient indicates hemoperitoneum within the lesser sac. Particular attention must be paid then to the splenic parenchyma, where isoechogenic blood clots can mask a hematoma. The association of subtile parenchymal changes and of a left butterfly sign are relevant of frank splenic lesions.
Weill
F
F
Departement de Radiologie Viscerale, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Besancon, France.
Rohmer
P
P
Didier
D
D
Coche
G
G
D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*