Sonographic Splenic Sizes in Normal Adult

This study aimed to establish ultrasonic splenic dimensions which can be used as normogram for adult Nigerians. 250 adult subjects were scanned prospect ive ly us ing a 3 .5MHZ ultrasound sector probe. The splenic length, width and thickness were obtained in the supine position and the weight calculated using Downey's formula. Differences in splenic dimensions were determined using Z test, while the relationship between the splenic dimension and the subjects age, BMI, and height were analysed using Pearson Moment Correlation. The normal splenic sizes obtained ranged from 9.9 -11.5cm (length L), 6.0-7.5cm (Width W) and 4.04.5cm (thickness -T). The splenic dimensions for males were 11.1 + 0.7cm (L), 7.3 + 0.2cm (w) and 4.2+ 0.2cm (T). The corresponding values for females were 10.6 + 0.7cm, 6.8 + 0.5cm and 4.2 + 0.2cm respectively; thus showing a statistically significant difference between the males and females (P < 0.05). A poor correlation was shown to exist between splenic dimensions and age but splenic weight increased with body weight (r=0.75). Even though value of the splenic sizes were similar to those of a Caucasian population compared with them (P>0.05), the maximum splenic weights th occurred in the 4 decade in Nigerians nd and in the 2 decade in Caucasians. This finding appears to bear credence to existing opinion by Chauhan et al that sp len ic recess ion ra ther than splenomegaly is prevalent in adults living in endemic falciparum zones. Statistically significant differences between splenic length and weights of the sexes have been established by the study. The good correlation between subject height and splenic length portends profound options of predicating subjects splenic size and matching his ultrasound values with this predicted splenic length (SPL = 1.2 + 0.063) ABSTRAIT Cette étude a visé à établir les dimensions spléniques ultrasoniques qui peuvent être employées comme normogram pour des nigériens d'adulte. 250 sujets d'adulte ont été balayés pour l'avenir en utilisant une sonde de secteur des ultrasons 3.5MHZ. La longueur splénique, la largeur et l'épaisseur ont été obtenues en position en supination et le poids a calculé en utilisant la formule de Downey. Des différences dans des dimensions spléniques ont été déterminées en utilisant Z examinez, tandis que le rapport entre la dimension splénique et les sujets vieillissent, BMI, et la taille ont été analysées en utilisant SONOGRAPHIC SPLENIC SIZES IN NORMAL ADULT NIGERIAN POPULATION Authors: *Okoye I. J., *Agwu K. K., *Ochie K. *Department of Radiation Medicine university of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological sciences University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus Correspondence: Dr. I. J. Okoye Dept of Radiation Medicine University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu West African Journal of Radiology April 2005 Vol. 12 Number 1