Point Shear Wave Elastography for Splenic Assessment: A Comparative Study of Splenomegaly and Normal Spleens

Background The spleen, a key immunological organ, plays a crucial role in filtering aged or damaged red blood cells. Splenomegaly, an enlargement of the spleen, can arise from a variety of physiological and pathological conditions, including hematological disorders, hepatic diseases, and infections. Accurate diagnosis and evaluation of splenomegaly are essential for effective treatment. Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate splenic stiffness in patients with splenomegaly using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) and compare the findings with those of individuals with normal spleen. Materials and methods This hospital-based observational study was conducted at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, India, from October 2022 to December 2023. The study included 56 participants, divided into two groups: 28 patients with splenomegaly and 28 healthy controls. Spleen stiffness was measured using a Samsung HS70A ultrasound machine (Samsung Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea), and pSWE was performed with a curvilinear probe. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), and the significance of differences was assessed using an independent t-test with a p-value of <0.05, considered statistically significant. Results The mean spleen stiffness, measured in kilopascals (kPa), was significantly higher in individuals with splenomegaly (32.05 ± 12.54 kPa) compared to controls (22.9 ± 9.49 kPa) (p = 0.003). A positive correlation (rho = 0.482, p < 0.001) was observed between spleen diameter and spleen stiffness. Conclusion This study demonstrates that pSWE is an effective, non-invasive tool for assessing spleen stiffness. The higher spleen stiffness in splenomegaly patients underscores pSWE's diagnostic utility, with a positive correlation between spleen diameter and stiffness. Further multi-center studies are recommended to validate these findings, highlighting pSWE's promise in evaluating and monitoring splenic disorders.