title: Characterization of nontraumatic focal splenic lesions using contrast-enhanced sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) with contrast-enhanced CT in the assessment of nontraumatic focal lesions of the spleen.
  
  
  METHODS
  CEUS and CT findings in 22 patients with fever of unknown origin and ultrasound-detected splenic focal lesions were analyzed retrospectively. CEUS was performed using an ultrasound unit equipped with a 3.6-MHz probe and contrast-specific software. A 4-ml bolus of second-generation contrast medium was used. The CEUS examinations included a 4-minute recording following injection of the contrast medium. MRI, splenic biopsy, or ultrasound follow-up were used if findings from CT were inconclusive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final diagnoses were as follows: seven splenic infarcts, five hemangiomas, three lacerations, two benign cysts, one lymphoma, one granuloma, one abscess, and two lesions of unknown etiology. CEUS and CT had the same specificity (77.2%). Both CEUS and CT failed to characterize nodular hypovascular lesions with a hypoenhancing pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS is as effective as CT for characterizing nontraumatic focal lesions of the spleen. If CEUS findings are consistent with a benign splenic lesion, CT seems to be of limited additional value.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, S Caterina Novella Hospital, Via Roma 1-73123 Galatina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiavaroli
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tundo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media