Focal splenic lesions in patients with AIDS: sonographic findings

The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic features of the focal splenic lesions in patients with AIDS and to know the frequency and etiology of these features.

Sonographic exams of 278 AIDS patients were reviewed retrospectively. We recorded the clinical indications for sonograms and sonographic findings of those patients with focal splenic lesions. In addition, patients' histories were reviewed to determine the etiology of such lesions. Ultrasound exams were performed with a 3.5-MHz transducer.

Sonography demonstrated focal splenic lesions in 22 patients (7.9%). Eighteen patients (81.8%) showed small, multiple, hypoechoic, rounded splenic lesions; one patient had a solitary defect with similar features. In these 19 patients (86.3%), splenic lesions were due to disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. One case showed two large hypoechoic wedge-shaped lesions that were splenic infarctions secondary to acute bacterial endocarditis. In two patients (9%) with solitary and multiple small hypoechoic lesions, the cause of the lesions remained unknown. All patients had splenomegaly. Hepatomegaly with focal lesions, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, or ascites were also seen.

In our area, the finding of splenomegaly with small, multiple, hypoechoic lesions in AIDS patients should make clinicians suspect splenic tuberculosis as a first possibility.