Estimation of spleen volume using MR imaging and a random marking technique

The aim of this study was to apply a random marking volumetric technique in MR images for estimation of spleen volume. The MR imaging was performed in phantoms and 16 patients with indications unrelated to splenic disease. Images were transferred to a workstation to perform volumetric measurements using the random marking technique and the conventional technique of manual planimetry. Two observers independently measured splenic volume in order to evaluate reproducibility of both volumetric techniques. Phantom experiments revealed that the accuracy of the random marking technique and manual planimetry was approximately the same. In vivo splenic volume measurements derived from both volumetric techniques were highly correlated (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001). For both observers intraobserver variation was found to be lower with the random marking technique than with manual planimetry. Interobserver coefficient of variation using the manual planimetry was 4.6% and was reduced to 2.9% by adopting the random marking technique. The random marking technique was almost two times faster than the manual planimetry. The combination of the random marking technique with MR imaging might provide accurate, reproducible, quick splenic volume estimations.