Computed tomography follow-up of nonsurgical treatment for hypersplenism

For the treatment of hypersplenism, transcatheter embolization of the splenic artery and collateral vessels is an alternative to splenectomy, notably in high-risk or immunosuppressed patients. After arterial occlusion and thrombosis, follow-up computed tomography scans depict progressive changes in the extent and appearance of splenic infarcts, such that these changes correlate with improved platelet counts. Computed tomography thus performs the unique role of identifying specific patterns of infarction and also differentiating internal defects, such as suppurative, gaseous, or liquefaction necrosis.