title: Coil embolization of the splenic artery: impact on splenic volume.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of coil embolization of the splenic artery on splenic volume based on computed tomography (CT) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Splenic artery embolization (SAE) was performed in 148 consecutive patients over an 8-year period in an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. Of these, 60 patients (36 men; mean age, 49 y) had undergone contrast-enhanced CT before and after SAE with a mean time interval of 355 days. Pre- and postembolization splenic volumes were calculated with volume-rendering software. Presence of Howell-Jolly bodies was ascertained on laboratory tests. A trauma control group consisted of 39 patients with splenic laceration and follow-up CT but no splenic intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAE in trauma patients resulted in an insignificant decrease in mean spleen size from 224 cm(3) to 190 cm(3) (P = .222). However, postembolization splenic volume was significantly smaller than follow-up volume in the trauma control group (353 cm(3); P < .001). In nontrauma patients, the mean splenic volume decreased from 474 cm(3) to 399 cm(3) after SAE (P = .068). Multivariable analysis revealed that coil pack location was the only factor significantly affecting resultant splenic volume (P = .016). For trauma and nontrauma patients, distal embolization resulted in significant splenic volume loss (P = .034 and P = .013), whereas proximal embolization did not. No patients had persistent circulating Howell-Jolly bodies after SAE. No patients required repeat embolization or splenectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coil embolization of the splenic artery resulted in a modest but significant decrease in splenic volume when performed distally; proximal embolization resulted in an insignificant volume change.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Preece
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: Stacey M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schriber
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: Kingshuk R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: Paul V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Suhocki
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: Tony P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710. Electronic address: charles.kim@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Charles Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D013156:Splenectomy; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media