Ultrasound of the spleen - examination of the most unstudied organ

Without ultrasound data, it is almost impossible to diagnose some diseases. This category includes pathologies of the spleen. Ultrasound of the spleen is a non-invasive and accessible diagnostic method.

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With the help of ultrasound diagnostics, it is possible to determine with a high degree of reliability the size of an organ, local and diffuse structures, as well as confirm or refute the presence of neoplasms in it. This diagnostic method is safe and is used for both adults and children.

Indications for ultrasound diagnostics

The content of the article

The spleen (splen) is the largest lymphoid parenchymal organ. It has a peculiar shape of a flat hemisphere. The spleen is located in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity, behind the stomach.

Despite the fact that the organ is not considered vital, it performs the most important functions, which, by the way, are still not fully understood:

• Lymphopoiesis
  - the production of antibodies and circulating blood lymphocytes - a kind of filter for bacteria, foreign particles and protozoa.
• Destruction of damaged red blood cells and platelets
  . The spleen, through the destruction of blood elements, participates in the formation of bile and iron metabolism.
• Platelet accumulation
  . The organ stores a third of all platelets.
• Production of lymphocytes and monocytes
  .
• Hormonal regulation of bone marrow function
  .

The procedure is carried out both for individual indications, in which case the doctor examines this particular organ, and for standard diagnostics of the abdominal cavity. The circulatory system of the spleen is interconnected with the vessels of other organs, and its tissues react to any abdominal pathology, so the organ must be examined during an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

Ultrasound of the spleen is prescribed for the following disorders:

• All groups of blood diseases.
• Increased size of the spleen.
• Oncological diseases or suspicion of their presence. Determination of the location and degree of localization of metastases.
• Improper development of the organ. Congenital anomalies (absence of an organ, “wandering” spleen, several spleens, etc.).
• Abdominal injuries.
• Numerous infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, malaria, sepsis, typhus, etc.).
• Liver diseases (cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.). Determination of foci of purulent processes.
• Monitoring the results of prescribed treatment.

Abdominal injuries, falls from heights, and traffic accidents are especially important indications for examining the spleen, since rupture of the organ, accompanied by blood loss, can be fatal.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of spleen diseases begins with a thorough examination by a doctor. After palpation and history taking, additional studies will be required - ultrasound, radiography, MRI or puncture. Laboratory diagnostics are also required.

The primary task is to correctly diagnose in order to prescribe effective treatment. It should only occur under the supervision of an experienced specialist.

Preventive measures to maintain the organ in a healthy state are very simple: proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. The spleen begins to work better with regular physical activity, as well as with special breathing exercises.

Pain in the spleen occurs when the organ has significantly increased in size. This may indicate various diseases, which can only be diagnosed by a qualified doctor. It is highly recommended not to make a diagnosis on your own, much less select a treatment.

After all, the spleen is one of the important organs responsible for supporting human immunity.

Timely contact with specialists will help you solve the problem at an early stage with minimal damage.

For early diagnosis of health problems, you can undergo a comprehensive diagnostics of the body at our center.

The best diagnosis of pain in the spleen is MRI of the spleen

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What diseases of the spleen can be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound examination of the spleen can detect a number of diseases at the initial stage of pathology development. This explains the value of this survey.

Such pathological changes include:

• Cysts.
• Malignant, benign tumors.
• Abscess (purulent inflammation, life-threatening)
• Necrosis (death) of tissue.
• Mechanical damage that can lead to organ rupture or hematoma (hemorrhage, bruise).
• Inflammation.
• Sepsis (blood poisoning).
• Mononucleosis.

Despite the fairly short list of pathologies, most of them can be fatal if left untreated.

Causes of development of splenic cysts.

True cysts are congenital and arise as a result of impaired embryogenesis. They are diseases with autosomal dominant heredity (in the case of single splenic cysts) or may represent a single genetic defect - multiple cystic lesions of various organs, including the spleen, kidneys, liver, brain.

False cysts develop in the presence of a pathological, genetically determined reaction of splenic tissue to inflammation as a result of trauma with central or subcapsular rupture of the spleen, surgery or other factors, for example, a number of medications, infectious diseases and, as a result, a previous splenic infarction. The wall of false cysts consists of fibrous tissue of the spleen. False splenic cysts can also form after treatment of a splenic abscess, as well as after surgery to remove parasitic spleen cysts.

Preparation

Ultrasound of the spleen is performed in the morning, on an empty stomach. The most accurate result of the study is possible subject to high-quality preparation for the procedure:

• The last meal should be at least 7-8 hours before the examination. An exception is for patients with diabetes: they are allowed to have a light snack in the morning (ideally tea with crackers).
• 2 days before the procedure, it is necessary to adjust the diet - exclude foods that contribute to gas formation (beans, raw vegetables, black bread, carbonated drinks, dairy products, etc.). This is necessary to prevent fermentation in the intestines: air prevents inspection of the spleen and distorts the result.
• It is recommended to take sorbents and enzyme preparations that stimulate digestion (smecta, festal, mezim, etc.).
• If a person has increased gas formation, then he is additionally advised to take activated charcoal on the eve of the procedure. The dosage is calculated individually at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited at least 24 hours before the procedure, as this can cause stomach spasms, which in turn will distort the results.

Preparing for an ultrasound of a child is somewhat more complicated, since he needs to be prepared not only physically, but psychologically. Although this procedure is completely painless and safe, the child may experience overwhelming anxiety and fear. It is possible to reduce the examination procedure to a kind of game.

There are also difficulties in the area of ​​nutrition. Children do not always tolerate hunger well, especially for infants and children under 3 years of age. A pause in feeding a baby must be made 3 hours before the ultrasound, in children 2-3 years old - 4 hours, over 3 years old - at least 6 hours. Do not drink for 1 hour.

How is the procedure performed?

The duration of an ultrasound examination of the spleen does not exceed 15 minutes. The patient can receive the results of the examination immediately after the procedure. The examination is carried out as follows:

• The patient lies on the couch with his back and exposes his stomach.
• The doctor applies a special gel to the abdomen, which improves the glide of the sensor and the penetration of ultrasonic waves deep into the tissue.
• A specialist performs an examination. The sensor is located along the midline of the abdomen, shifted to the left by 10 cm, and then parallel sections are made. Afterwards, the doctor changes the direction of movement from the costal arch to the lower pole of the spleen.
• The received data is decrypted.

With congenital anomalies of the spleen, even if this is a conditional norm of development, difficulties may arise in performing the procedure. The solution to the problem is to conduct an ultrasound of the spleen through the intercostal space. To do this, the patient needs to take a certain position: lie on his right side, raise his left hand behind his head, then take a deep breath and hold his breath - in this state the doctor examines the condition of the organ.

If no suspected pathologies have been identified, the ultrasound continues with the patient in the prone position.

Interpretation of ultrasound of the spleen: normal indicators

Normal ultrasound findings of the spleen look like this:

• Echogenicity: average.
• The size of the splenic vein is no more than 0.5 cm (in diameter).
• Possible presence of a vascular network in the area of ​​the organ's hilum.
• Shape: sickle-shaped.
• Location: in the abdominal cavity, in the left upper quadrant (between the diaphragm and the stomach).
• Localization of the stomach: at the center of the spleen (or slightly lower).
• Location of the tail of the pancreas: at the middle of the hilum of the organ.
• Localization of the left kidney: just below the spleen in the middle.
• Size: with an oblique cut - within 12 cm, with a transverse cut - up to 8 cm, thickness - about 4 cm.
• Weight: 150-250 g.
• The structure of the parenchyma is homogeneous, the contour is continuous.

Deviation from the norm

There are situations when an organ develops pathologically. And this condition is called “wandering spleen.” “The wandering spleen is a very rare pathology, which is characterized by the absence of one or more ligaments that hold the organ in a normal position in the upper left half of the abdominal cavity,” says Tatyana Galich.

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing like that in this situation. And the condition is completely harmless to humans. However, doctors are confident that if such a defect is present, one cannot relax. “The danger of the pathology lies in the fact that blood vessels pass through the ligamentous apparatus - “vascular legs” that feed the spleen. With active movement of the organ, “torsion” and ischemia of the spleen (impaired blood supply) may occur,” the surgeon emphasizes.

This situation will generally have a negative impact on the person’s condition.

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Spleen size in children

In children, the normal size of the spleen depends not only on age, but also on height, therefore individual fluctuations in indicators in children are acceptable within 10% of the age norm. The sizes of the organ for children of different ages are presented in the table.

If the indicators go beyond the normal range, the following pathologies may be suspected:

• hematological syndrome.
• anemia.
• leukemia.
• Congenital heart defect.
• typhoid fever.
• tuberculosis.

Often, an enlarged spleen in children indicates liver problems.

Symptoms of an enlarged spleen

Typically, the spleen increases in size in response to serious problems in the body. Accordingly, this geometric or functional increase will be accompanied by manifestations characteristic of a particular disease.

The increased destructive potential of the organ is eloquently evidenced by the indicators of increased destruction of blood cells (and accelerated formation in the bone marrow). Blood, stool, and bone marrow smear tests can identify these abnormalities.

The lack of cellular elements of the blood also has its numerous pathological consequences: bleeding and hemorrhages, weakness, chronic fatigue, pallor, long-term non-healing wounds, susceptibility to various infections, etc.

Patients may also complain about immediate discomfort caused by a significantly enlarged organ: nagging pain and bloating in the abdomen, a quickly developing feeling of heaviness in the stomach during meals, etc.

The increased size of the organ is diagnosed by palpation and instrumental methods (ultrasound, tomography).

Pathological indicators of the spleen: list of changes by disease

Some diseases cannot be seen directly after an ultrasound examination of the spleen, but the doctor is able to determine them by the area of ​​the largest oblique section. To find it, you need to multiply the largest linear dimension by the smallest. The norm for this indicator is 15.5-23.5 cm2.

Alternative Research

In medicine, there are many methods for examining the spleen:

• Ultrasound.
• Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
• Radionuclide scanning.
• Puncture.

Ultrasound of the spleen has many advantages over other methods.

• Painless – the study does not require invasive procedures. Then, like a biopsy (tissue sampling for further analysis), although it is carried out with anesthesia, the procedure is still unpleasant.
• Short duration - obtaining the necessary information about the condition of the organ and making a preliminary diagnosis takes only 15 minutes.
• It has no contraindications, which allows the procedure to be performed many times. And this is very convenient for monitoring the course of the disease and adjusting treatment.
• Affordable cost – ultrasound has the lowest price among all methods.