Splenic blood flow: evaluation with computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To study splenic perfusion with use of computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
Twenty-six control patients without splenoportal disease, six with cirrhosis, and seven with other splenic disease were examined with electron-beam CT. Twenty-five milliliters of iohexol (300 mg of iodine per milliliter) was given intravenously at 10 mL/sec followed by a saline bolus. Multiple single-level axial sections were acquired 8-90 seconds after injection. Perfusion was calculated by dividing maximal splenic enhancement by the area under the circulation-corrected aortic time-enhancement curve. Subjective assessments of enhancement heterogeneity were made, and regional perfusion was calculated in 10 patients with heterogeneous enhancement. Total splenic volume and blood flow were computed in 21 patients.


RESULTS
Mean perfusion (controls: 1.29 mL/min/mL, miscellaneous group: 1.07 mL/min/mL) was close to predictions. There was a trend toward lower perfusion in cirrhotic patients (0.87 mL/min/mL), but the difference was not statistically significant. Total splenic blood was increased in patients with cirrhosis (P < .01). Marked perfusion heterogeneity was observed in 41% of spleens, but by 2 minutes splenic enhancement was uniform.


CONCLUSIONS
CT shows promise in the study of splenic blood flow.
Blomley
M J
MJ
Department of Radiology, University of Chicago Hospitals, IL, USA.
Kormano
M
M
Coulden
R
R
Lim-Dunham
J
J
Dawson
P
P
Lipton
M J
MJ
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed