[Diagnostic imaging of splenic cysts in children]

Nonparasitic splenic cysts are a rare finding: they can be distinguished into true cysts (epidermoid or epithelial) cysts or false (pseudocysts), depending on the presence/absence of an inner epithelial lining. They are usually found during the second and third decade of life, although they can also appear during childhood. They grow bigger in children, becoming clinically apparent due to the symptoms of compression of adjacent structures. The diagnosis is radiological, made with ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). We report the US and CT patterns of splenic cysts to differentiate true from false cysts.

Our series consists of 5 patients, aged 5-17 years, all examined with US and CT; one of them was also submitted to plain abdominal radiography. Conventional CT was used in 2 cases and helical CT in the extant 3.

All examinations yielded useful clinical informations. The only radiograph showed the rightward displacement of the gastric gas bubble US always identified the cyst and its pertinence to splenic parenchyma, although failing to assess the liquid/solid nature of a highly echogenic cyst in one case. CT confirmed the cystic nature of all masses and showed the lack of contrast enhancement of cyst walls and the presence of septa or parietal calcifications.

Radiological examinations, particularly US and CT, can diagnose splenic cysts unquestionably, correctly defining the relationships with adjacent organs. CT is more sensitive than US in detecting septa or calcifications, which are definitely useful findings to distinguish true from false cysts, since internal septa are more frequent in true cysts while parietal calcifications are typical of pseudocysts. The final diagnosis, however, is made at histology.