[Ultrasonographic evaluation of the kidney, liver and spleen size in children].
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to establish a standard growth curve of renal, hepatic and splenic dimensions with respect to age, and to find if any relationship existed between these different curves.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty abdominal ultrasound studies were obtained on 62 male and 88 female normal children free of any chronic disease, whose ages ranged from 0 to 15 years. Hepatic, splenic and renal dimensions were obtained in a similar and reproducible fashion for all patients. A statistical study of the measurements obtained compared to the age was performed by dividing the subjects into five groups according to age, and after calculating the mean size and variance.


RESULTS
Standard growth curves for the liver, kidney and spleen were constructed. Compared to age, splenic size follows the same growth as that of the kidneys, with a constant ratio. The growth pattern of the liver parallel the renal curve with a mean difference of 2.72 cm.


CONCLUSIONS
A moderate enlargement of spleen and liver is difficult to evaluate only by clinical examination. Ultrasound may detect it by using the kidney size as a reference.
Haddad-Zebouni
S
S
Service de radiologie, Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beyrouth, Liban.
Hindy
R
R
Slaba
S
S
Aoun
N
N
Mourani
C
C
Abi Ghanem
S
S
Atallah
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001824:Body Constitution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014463:Ultrasonography