title: Contrast-enhanced sonography of the spleen.
abstract: Sonography is frequently the first imaging modality employed to evaluate the spleen. Nevertheless, splenic abnormalities frequently determine subtle changes in echogenicity and may be overlooked. Additionally, splenic disorders have a nonspecific appearance, mostly appearing as hypoechoic defects. Difficulties in differential diagnosis are not uncommon, with splenic infarctions resembling, for example, focal lesions. Color Doppler is usually of limited additional value. Instead, the spleen is optimally suited for contrast-enhanced sonography, being superficial, small, and homogeneous, and showing intense and persistent contrast enhancement. Scarcely evident abnormalities become evident after contrast medium injection. Additional information can be obtained in many clinical scenarios, including blunt trauma, left flank pain, lymphoma, and incidental detection of splenic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Cancer Institute, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy. orlandcat@tin.it
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sandomenico
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: Adolfo Gallipoli
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siani
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010743:Phospholipids; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride