title: Sonographic assessment of liver and spleen size based on age, height, and weight: evaluation of Jordanian children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The growth of the liver and spleen is a dynamic process in children, and is related to the somatic parameters of the child, and may be affected by many diseases in children. It is of paramount importance to have standard reference values for the size of these organs for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The aim of our study was to provide practical and reliable normal reference values for the size of the liver and spleen in children and to correlate the values with age, height, and weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred fifteen children (142 boys and 173 girls) were prospectively examined by ultrasound due to problems unrelated to the liver or spleen. All of the subjects had normal sonographic appearance of their organs. The ages of the subjects ranged from newborns to 14 years. The liver and spleen size was correlated with age, height, and weight. The spleen size was compared with previous internationally published data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical significant difference in the size of the liver and spleen between boys and girls (P>0.05). There was steady increase in the size of the liver and spleen, with good correlation with age and all the somatic parameters. The spleen size was in close proximity to those previously reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standard spleen and liver size reference values were obtained by ultrasound for Jordanian children and were in concordance with international values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan - larousan@just.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Liqa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rousan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hashemite University, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Jehad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fataftah
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mamoon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Omari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Wail
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hayajneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hepatology and Nutrition, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miqdady
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khader
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007597:Jordan; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography