[Accessory spleen: ultrasonographic and tomographic characteristics]

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Accessory spleens arise from the failure of splenic tissue fusion during embryonic development.
• These splenic anomalies are typically identified during post-mortem examinations.
• Accessory spleens can mimic other abdominal pathologies, necessitating accurate diagnostic imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of accessory spleens in patients with abdominal pathologies.
• To compare the ultrasonographic and tomographic features of accessory spleens versus the main spleen.
• To highlight the clinical significance of accessory spleen diagnosis in specific patient groups.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of one thousand patients with various abdominal pathologies was studied.
• Five hundred patients underwent ultrasonography.
• Five hundred patients underwent computed tomography (CT) for imaging analysis.

Main Results:

• Ultrasonographic and tomographic features of accessory spleens were found to be similar to those of the main spleen.
• The study established the incidence of accessory spleens within the studied patient population.
• Imaging characteristics allowed for differentiation and comparison between main and accessory splenic tissue.

Conclusions:

• Accessory spleens exhibit similar imaging characteristics to the main spleen on both ultrasonography and CT.
• Accurate diagnosis of accessory spleens is vital in patients with hematologic diseases or splenic trauma.
• Hypertrophy of an accessory spleen can lead to disease relapse, underscoring the importance of its identification.