Ultrasound assessment of spleen size in collegiate athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine normal spleen dimensions in a healthy collegiate athletic population.


METHODS
631 Division I collegiate athletes from one university participated in the study. During pre-participation examinations, demographic data collected were collected from volunteer athletes including sex, race, measurement of height and weight, and age. Subjects also completed a medical history form to determine any history of mononucleosis infection, platelet disorder, sickle cell disease (or trait), thalassaemia, or recent viral symptoms. Subjects then underwent a limited abdominal ultrasound examination, where splenic length and width were recorded.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) splenic length was 10.65 (1.55) cm and width, 5.16 (1.21) cm. Men had larger spleens than women (p<0.001). White subjects had larger spleens than African-American subjects (p<0.001). A previous history of infectious mononucleosis or the presence of recent cold symptoms had no significant affect on spleen size. In more than 7% of athletes, baseline spleen size met current criteria for splenomegaly.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a wide range of normal spleen size among collegiate athletes. Average spleen size was larger in men and white athletes than in women and black athletes. A single ultrasound examination for determination of splenomegaly is of limited value in this population.
Hosey
R G
RG
Department of Family Medicine/Sports Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA. rhosey@email.uky.edu
Mattacola
C G
CG
Kriss
V
V
Armsey
T
T
Quarles
J D
JD
Jagger
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013177:Sports; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American