Organ volume by computed tomography correlates with longitudinal axis on ultrasound in patients with Gaucher disease

Although ultrasonography (US) may be recommended for repeat assessments of spleen and liver volumes, it is less readily used than magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) because of concerns of accuracy and reproducibility. In monitoring spleen and liver volumes for Gaucher disease where volume changes underlie management decisions, in experienced hands, US has a place because some patients are evaluated for decades and sometimes several times annually. The purpose of this survey was to ascertain whether one can maximize the efficiency of US imaging by use of one US axis if it correlates with CT-generated volumes.

A patient cohort from a large tertiary clinic dedicated to Gaucher disease was used. Thirty-seven patients with simultaneous abdominal CT and US evaluations (1992-2009), 27 (73%) at the advent of Gaucher-specific therapy, and followed both by CT and US up to 3 additional times (interval, ≥12 months) were included. Ultrasound evaluation of 3 axes, longitudinal, width, and depth, was performed by one radiologist; all organs including idiosyncratically shaped and massively enlarged organs were included.

There was a significant correlation between CT volume and US length axis for both spleen (0.619) and for liver (0.557) volumes (P = 0.01; 2-tailed for each).

With some training, the use of the longitudinal axis by US assessment may suffice to approximate estimation of changes in organ volumes.