title: Elongated left lobe of the liver mimicking a subcapsular hematoma of the spleen on the focused assessment with sonography for trauma exam.
abstract: The focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination has assumed the role of initial screening examination for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum in the patient with blunt abdominal trauma. Sonographic pitfalls associated with the examination have primarily been related to mistaking contained fluid collections with hemoperitoneum. We present a case in which an elongated left lobe of the liver was misdiagnosed as a splenic subcapsular hematoma. It is imperative that emergency physicians and trauma surgeons be familiar with this normal variant of the liver and its associated sonographic appearance on the perisplenic window in order to prevent nontherapeutic laparotomies or embolizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabbut
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gramer
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging