Splenic lymphoma: differentiation from splenic cyst with ultrasonography.
METHODS
Lymphoma can be nearly anechoic and mimic a cyst on ultrasonography (US). To investigate whether this phenomenon occurs at the level of the spleen, we analyzed the US findings of 38 cases of splenic lymphoma and 16 cases of splenic cyst.


RESULTS
(1) With regard to shape, echogenicity of the lesion, and mode of posterior echo, there was no difference between splenic lymphomas and splenic cysts. However, the boundaries of the lesions were indistinct in splenic lymphomas and distinct in splenic cysts. (2) Blood flow signals and vascular penetration were seen exclusively in splenic lymphomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The mode of boundary echo (distinct or indistinct) distinguishes splenic lymphomas from splenic cysts. Color Doppler US increases the diagnostic confidence of US.
Ishida
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010, Japan.
Konno
K
K
Ishida
J
J
Naganuma
H
H
Komatsuda
T
T
Sato
M
M
Watanabe
S
S
D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color