Ultrasonographic Assessment of the Splenic Size in Sickle Cell Anemia: Single Splenic Span Measurement Vs Splenic Volume
- December 26, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRSI, Radiology
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XII, December 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705
Chukwuma Ikechukwu Ezeike
Radiology Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Abstract:
Introduction: The spleen remains one of the most commonly affected organs in sickle cell anemia. The use of the palpation method to determine the splenic size can be unreliable and sometimes misleading. Ultrasonography is arguably one of the most reliable methods of splenic size evaluation. Most clinicians prefer the single splenic span (length) measurement because it is fast and is believed to be accurate. Splenic volume measurement is another method of evaluating the splenic size, though it may be more time consuming when compared to the single splenic span measurement.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the splenic size in subjects with sickle cell anemia and normal subjects using the splenic volume measurement and the single splenic span (length) measurement to find out which method is more accurate
Materials and Methods: One hundred consenting patients with Hb SS and 100 consenting matching group with Hb AA were recruited in this case-control study. The age group was between 0 to 30 years. Study subjects were scanned using the trans-abdominal route with a 3.5MHz curvilinear transducer of a Sonoscape S40 Digital Colour Doppler Ultrasound System (Sonoscape Medical Corp. December 2018). The study duration was 7months. The splenic length, transverse, anteroposterior diameter and volume were measured.
Data Analysis: Data analysis was carried out using statistical package for social sciences version 22.0 (SPSS Inc Chicago, IL, USA).
Results: Thirty percent, 39% and 31% of patients with Hb SS have splenic lengths of <6cm, 7-12cm and >12cm respectively. The mean splenic volume (p-value = 0.001) and splenic AP diameter (p-value = 0.048) in subjects with Hb SS found were significantly higher in this study than those with Hb AA. There was no statistically significant difference between the splenic Length(p value = 0.659) and Transverse measurement (p value = 0.433) in both groups.
Conclusion: In Ebonyi State of Nigeria, the prevalence of autosplenectomy and splenomegaly among sickle cell anemia subjects are 30% and 31% respectively. Measurement of the splenic volume is more accurate than a single splenic length measurement in assessing the splenic size.
Keywords: Sickle Cell Anemia, Splenic size, Ultrasonography, Splenic volume, Splenic span.
