title: Non-invasive diagnosis of tropical splenomegaly syndrome.
abstract: A study of 41 clinically diagnosed cases of possible tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS) was undertaken in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, to determine the appropriateness of liver ultrasonography in confirming a diagnosis of TSS. Definitive diagnosis of TSS was made on liver biopsy in 35 (85%) cases. Abdominal ultrasound showed that 30 of the confirmed cases of TSS had normal liver echo-texture and portal vein diameter, and five had abnormally increased liver echo-texture. The combination of massive splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, together with normal ultrasound features of the liver was highly suggestive of TSS. The sensitivity of this criterion was 86% and the specificity was 83%. This non-invasive approach to the diagnosis of TSS is associated with less hazards than liver biopsy, and a normal echogram could be used to make the diagnosis in over 80% of cases, in the field where histopathology may be lacking.
authors.affiliation: Makerere Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: el-Shazly
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Okello
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kawooya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006529:Hepatomegaly; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013577:Syndrome; D014454:Uganda; D014463:Ultrasonography