title: Splenic emergencies.
abstract: Of medical and surgical emergencies in the pediatric abdomen, those involving the spleen are relatively less common than other abdominal organs, though equally important to recognize. A more sophisticated clinical understanding of the important role of the spleen in immunocompetence has developed in parallel with advancements in imaging. A healthy respect for the preservation of splenic tissue has emerged, altering traditional surgical management of splenic emergencies. Non-invasive imaging has come to play a vital role in depicting acute abnormalities and in determining the need for conservative, interventional, or surgical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Emery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013159:Splenic Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography