Scintigraphy in the followup of pediatric splenic trauma treated without surgery

Twenty patients with blunt abdominal trauma were diagnosed as having splenic rupture by Tc-99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy. Because of the increased risk of infection in children following splenectomy, surgery was not performed and scintigraphic followup of the injured spleens was carried out. Thirteen patients were scanned at least 2 mo after trauma and the longest followup was 1 yr. Only three spleens showed "scintigraphic healing." The remaining ten showed smaller defects, but in two patients the size of the defect did not change after the 2-mo scan. In no case did the scan defect enlarge. Technetium-99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy offers a convenient and sensitive method of following trauma cases if no surgery is performed. Scintigraphic defects can persist for long periods of time while the patient is asymptomatic.