Accuracy of the sonographic determination of the splenic weight in comparison with the weight at autopsy

• Published in: RöFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebende Verfahren Vol. 175; no. 4; p. 532
• Main Authors: Klühs, L, Teichgräber, U K M, Schneider, U, Ludwig, W-D, Dörken, B, Benter, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Autopsy; Humans; Mathematical Computing; Organ Size; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Spleen - diagnostic imaging; Spleen - pathology; Splenectomy; Splenomegaly - diagnostic imaging; Splenomegaly - pathology; Ultrasonography - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1438-9029
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-38435

The weight of the spleen can be easily calculated from sonographic measurements. This study investigates the correlations between the weight of the spleen determined sonographically and the weight measured at autopsy or after splenectomy. The splenic weight at autopsy or after splenectomy was correlated with the calculated sonographic splenic weight in 55 patients who had a sonographic examination within the preceding three weeks. A significant correlation (r = 0.978) was found between the sonographically calculated splenic weight (460.82 grams) and the measured weight of the removed spleen (average weight 463.18 grams). Spleens weighing more than 1 kg showed a slightly weaker correlation. This study proves that the simple formula of length x transverse diameter x vertical diameter x 0.6 provides a reliable calculation of the weight of the spleen.