Left hemidiaphragmatic mobility: assessment with ultrasonographic measurement of the craniocaudal displacement of the splenic hilum and the inferior pole of the spleen.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the radiographic and ultrasonographic measurements of craniocaudal displacement of the left hemidiaphragm.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with clinical indications for interventional procedures prospectively underwent radiographic evaluation of left hemidiaphragmatic mobility and B-mode ultrasonographic measurement of craniocaudal displacement of the hilum and the inferior pole of the spleen. Ultrasonography was performed with a 3.5-MHz convex transducer in a left intercostal position under a longitudinal orientation. Statistical analyses were performed with linear regression, a paired Student t test, and Bland-Altman analyses.


RESULTS
The correlation between the craniocaudal splenic hilum displacement and radiographic measurements was found to be linear: hemidiaphragmatic mobility = 17.795 + 0.429 x splenic hilum displacement (SE for the regression coefficient = 0 .12; P = .0012), although the values obtained with both methods were statistically different (P < .05). The same results could be observed with the use of the inferior pole of the spleen: hemidiaphragmatic mobility = 9.5596 + 0.5455 x inferior polo displacement (SE for the regression coefficient = 0 .11; P < .0001). The mean difference between the values obtained by ultrasonography and by radiography was statistically significant (16.7 +/- 16.1 mm; P < .05 [hilum]; 18.9 +/- 14.2 mm; P < .05 [inferior pole]).


CONCLUSIONS
These results allow us to conclude that ultrasonography can be used as an alternative method for left hemidiaphragm mobility evaluation compared with radiography.
Toledo
Nair S G
NS
Liver Unit, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil. tolecosta@hotmail.com
Kodaira
Sergio K
SK
Massarollo
Paulo C B
PC
Pereira
Osvaldo I
OI
Dalmas
José Carlos
JC
Cerri
Giovanni Guido
GG
Buchpiguel
Carlos A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography