title: Sonographic evaluation of the spleen among sickle cell disease patients in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regional variations in size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have been documented in various publications. The objectives of this study were to assess the size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen of SCD patients and ascertain the relationship of age, height and weight with the spleen sizes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study involving 103 each of SCD and age matched control subjects. Aloka ST- 550 -3500 ultrasound machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers was used to scan the subjects over a 15 months period (September, 2012 to November, 2013). The age, height and weight of each subject were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spleen sizes of SCD patients were generally larger than those of the controls (p < 0.05). Abnormal spleen parenchyma of varied appearances was found among the SCD subjects. There were negative correlations between mean spleen sizes and height, weight and age in SCD patients but positive correlations were found between them in the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine sonographic assessment of spleen size and echo-texture is useful in the management of SCD patients.
authors.affiliation: Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles Ugwoke
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Eze
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Godfrey Chukwudi
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Offordile
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kennedy Kenechukwu
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Agwuna
authors.affiliation: Haematology & Immunology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sunday
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ocheni
authors.affiliation: Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Inoccent Uchechukwu
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Nwadike
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bartholomew Friday
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Chukwu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009929:Organ Size; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Nigerian population; patient management; sickle cell disease; sonography; spleen morphology