Focal lesions in the ultrasonographic examination of the spleen as a symptom of various disease statuses: literature survey and case descriptions.
BACKGROUND
Ultrasonography (US) is an easy and non-invasive technique of visualizing spleen. Thanks to its repeatability, it plays an important role in the diagnostics of, among others, developmental anomalies, such as supernumerary or lobated spleens, as well as focal lesions. It is also used in monitoring the size of the spleen and it considerably facilitates diagnosis after certain injuries. Thanks to the application of the Doppler method, it also facilitates the diagnostics of pathologies within the spleen's vessels.


METHODS
This paper presents six different cases of focal lesions in the spleen, including lesions in the course of histiocytosis, in the course of sarcoidosis, as well as isolated abscesses of the spleen. The authors also present the case of a spleen with numerous metastatic lesions, the case of a near-splenic cyst, and the case of asymptomatic focal lesions of unknown origin. In all the presented cases, the lesions were accidentally revealed during ultrasonographic examination, which was the starting point for further diagnostics.


CONCLUSIONS
Though rare, morphologic lesions in the spleen should always be taken into consideration when performing a routine ultrasonographic examination of the abdominal cavity, and the organ itself should not be ignored. US is a widely available, noninvasive, and useful method for diagnosing splenic abnormalities, including focal changes.
Woszczyk
Dariusz
D
Clinic of Internal Diseases and Oncological Chemotherapy, Katowice, Poland. dariuszwoszczyk@tlen.pl
Kołodziej-Jaskuła
Aleksandra
A
Mykała-Cieśla
Joanna
J
Bal
Anna
A
Łabuzek
Krzysztof
K
Gasińska
Teresa
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography