Ultrasonographic atlas of splenic lesions
Article information
Abstract
Ultrasonography (US) is widely used for abdominal imaging. Its noninvasiveness, extensive range of application, and low cost make US a useful and valuable tool for the detection, diagnosis, and follow-up of splenic abnormalities. Concomitantly with the increasing frequency of imaging, more splenic lesions are being discovered and the requirements for the differential diagnosis are rising. In this pictorial essay, we introduce the representative US findings of many different splenic lesions, including normal sonographic findings, normal variants and congenital anomalies, infectious conditions, benign and malignant neoplasms, and non-neoplastic lesions. Knowledge of the US features of various splenic lesions will help narrow the differential diagnosis and guide clinical decision-making.
Introduction
The spleen, sometimes called "the forgotten organ" of the abdomen, has received less attention than other abdominal solid organs, as splenic diseases are less common and frequently clinically asymptomatic [1]. However, with the increasing frequency of imaging and advances in imaging technology, more incidental splenic lesions are being discovered and the subsequent requirements for the differential diagnosis are growing.
Ultrasonography (US) is increasingly being used in clinical practice because of its strengths, which include accessibility, low cost, advances in imaging technology, and lack of radiation hazard. Therefore, US is widely used and frequently chosen as the first imaging modality for most abdominal imaging, both for general abdominal examinations and for patients suspected of having splenic diseases. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there are not enough up-to-date ultrasonographic imaging reviews of splenic diseases [2-5]. Therefore, this pictorial essay elucidates the US findings of various splenic lesions, in correlation with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and pathology.
Normal US of the Spleen
The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, posterolateral to the stomach. In US, the spleen is readily examined in several positions, including the supine, right lateral decubitus, and prone positions, through the subcostal or oblique intercostal plane, using a 3-5 MHz curved transducer [6].
The normal spleen shows a uniform echotexture similar to or slightly more hyperechoic than the liver or renal parenchyma. It has a crescent shape with a smooth outer convexity and a nodulous inner margin (Fig. 1) [3].
Generally, the upper limit of the normal spleen size is 11-12 cm in length and 7 cm in width, with splenomegaly defined as a length exceeding 11-12 cm in length; however, this threshold may vary based on the patient’s age, sex, and body size [1,3].
Normal Variants and Congenital Abnormalities of the Spleen
Accessory Spleen
Accessory spleen, which results from a failure of the embryonic splenic anlage to fuse and extreme lobulation that separates splenic tissue, is a normal variant observed in 10%-30% of individuals [7]. It is usually found around the splenic hilum or ligaments, pancreatic tail, or sometimes in the pancreatic parenchyma [7]. US reveals a small (1-3 cm), separated, well-circumscribed, round to oval mass with echogenicity identical to that of the spleen (Fig. 2).
Intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) may mimic pancreatic neoplasms, but requires no further treatment. Therefore, a noninvasive imaging diagnosis is essential. The key US finding of IPAS is echogenicity identical to that of the spleen (Fig. 3). IPAS is usually surrounded by a high-amplitude interface representing a fibrotic capsule [8].
Wandering Spleen
Wandering spleen occurs when the spleen migrates from its normally fixed posterolateral location in the left upper abdomen. This condition can be both congenital and acquired, and lacks normal anchoring by the gastrosplenic and splenorenal ligaments [7]. US is a valuable modality to diagnose wandering spleen located in ectopic sites and to evaluate complications, including torsion and infarction (Fig. 4). When complicated with torsion, an abnormally located hypoechoic spleen with a twisted vascular pedicle and decreased or absent perfusion on color Doppler US are characteristic findings [1]. In particular, real-time US is helpful for testing splenic hypermobility and vascular pedicle abnormalities [7].
Infections and Splenic Abscesses
Bacterial Infections
Splenic abscesses caused by bacterial infections mainly occur through hematogenous spread (75%), penetrating trauma (15%), and splenic infarction [9]. Pyogenic splenic abscesses appear as single or multiple poorly defined round to oval hypoechoic or anechoic cystic masses with variable posterior acoustic enhancement on US, according to the degree of necrosis, as well as an absence of internal vascularity on color Doppler US (Figs. 5, 6) [1,9]. If the abscess contains internal air bubbles, hyperechoic foci with shadowing may be seen [4].
Fungal Infections
Fungal splenic abscesses typically occur in immunocompromised patients with neutropenia, most commonly by Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. Fungal lesions appear as hypoechoic multiple micro-abscesses (mostly 5–10 mm and almost always <20 mm) [1,10]. Characteristically, Candida infections show "bulls-eye" or "wheel within a wheel" patterns, consisting of different layers of necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis [1].
Splenic Tuberculosis
Mycobacterial splenic involvement can develop in disseminated miliary tuberculosis (TB) infections [1,10]. The US findings include multiple hypoechoic nodules, abscesses, and splenomegaly (Fig. 7) [1]. Additional findings such as enlarged and conglomerated lymph nodes, bowel wall thickening, and ascites seen in abdominal TB may be helpful [1].
Parasitic Infections and Infestations
Most parasitic splenic lesions are hydatid cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The US findings depend on the stage of the cyst and its associated complications. Anechoic fluid-filled cysts with various internal echogenic materials representing intracystic debris, hydatid sand, inflammation, or pathognomonic findings such as the "water lily" sign of collapsed floating membranes, as well as multiple small peripheral daughter cysts, may be observed [1,2]. In addition, splenic paragonimiasis has been reported in endemic areas; this condition appears as a splenic mass composed of clusters of small anechoic cysts (Fig. 8) [11].
Benign Neoplasms
Hemangioma
Hemangioma is the most common benign neoplasm of the spleen; it is mostly asymptomatic and is usually found incidentally [1,12]. Smaller splenic hemangiomas, which are more common, appear as discrete echogenic lesions (Fig. 9) similar to those in the liver. Larger hemangiomas occasionally cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, a palpable mass, spontaneous bleeding when ruptured, or Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, which involves the triad of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy. Larger ones may appear as complex solid and cystic masses (Fig. 10) due to infarction, thrombosis, hemorrhage, or fibrosis, and with acoustic shadowing due to calcifications [1,2,12]. On color Doppler US, there may be intralesional or peripheral vascularity or no flow [5].
Hamartoma
Splenic hamartoma is a rare benign tumor, known as "a spleen within a spleen," composed of malformed normal splenic tissue caused by post-traumatic scar, nodular hyperplasia, or hyperplastic nodules. It typically appears as a single well-defined homogeneous isoechoic to hyperechoic nodule or mass on US (Fig. 11) [1,12]. The characteristic hypervascularity of the hamartoma’s red pulp is reflected as a hypervascular pattern on color Doppler US [12].
Lymphangioma
Lymphangioma is a benign slow-growing congenital neoplasm, typically seen in childhood. US is advantageous for evaluating the contents and shape of the cystic lesions, in which splenic lymphangioma appears as a well-defined thin-walled multilocular cystic lesion located in the subcapsular area of the spleen, and may contain intralocular echogenic debris, hyperechoic septations, and thin mural calcifications (Fig. 12) [5]. In addition, vascularity along the walls of the cysts in color Doppler US is helpful for the diagnosis [1].
Sclerosing Angiomatoid Nodular Transformation
Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) is a rare benign non-neoplastic vascular lesion composed of multiple angiomatoid nodules interspersed with fibrous bands [13]. Most cases are asymptomatic and found incidentally. On US, SANT appears as a solitary round heterogeneous (usually hypoechoic) mass, sometimes with visible linear hyperechoic septae, and arterial flow signals on color Doppler US (Fig. 13A) [14]. Contrast-enhanced US, CT, and MR imaging show a well-circumscribed solitary mass with peripheral enhancing radiating lines, referred to as a "spoke wheel" appearance (Fig. 13B) [13].
Malignant Neoplasms
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is the most common malignancy of the spleen [2,15]. Secondary involvement is much more common, in that 30%-40% of lymphoma patients show splenic involvement, while primary lymphoma of the spleen is rare (<1%) [16]. The various patterns include diffuse infiltration causing alterations in the splenic echotexture and enlargement, miliary nodules, multiple solid nodules or masses (Fig. 14), and a large solitary mass (Fig. 15). The lesions are generally hypoechoic compared to normal splenic parenchyma and avascular on color Doppler US [1-3,15].
Metastases
Splenic metastasis is uncommon except for lymphoma, and is usually seen in advanced stages of various malignancies. The frequent primary malignancies of splenic metastases are melanoma and cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, lung, and prostate. Most metastases occur as solitary or multiple nodules. While approximately 50% are hypoechoic, this varies according to the primary tumor, and hyperechoic (especially from melanoma and colon cancer) (Fig. 16), mixed echoic, cystic, and target appearances are also possible [1,2,15]. Most metastatic nodules or masses are avascular on color Doppler US [17].
Angiosarcoma
Angiosarcoma is the most common primary nonhematopoietic malignant neoplasm of the spleen. It is highly malignant and develops from the endothelial lining of blood vessels in spleen. On US, it is seen as well-defined heterogeneous solitary or multiple nodules or masses with hemorrhagic or necrotic changes, or splenomegaly in diffusely infiltrative cases [1,2]. In color Doppler US, increased blood flow may be seen in the hyperechoic solid portion [5,12].
Non-neoplastic Lesions
Splenomegaly
Splenomegaly can be diagnosed in patients with acute or chronic splenic enlargement, with splenic length >11-12 cm and width >7 cm (Fig. 17) [1,3]. Various conditions cause diffuse enlargement of the spleen, including congestive, hyperplastic, inflammatory, infectious, and infiltrative causes (Table 1). US alone cannot determine the exact cause of splenomegaly, but it is necessary to confirm and quantify splenomegaly, and ancillary findings on US examinations may be helpful for patient evaluation [1].
Splenic Cysts
Congenital or epidermoid splenic cysts are developmental cystic lesions with an epithelial lining [18]. In US, epidermoid cysts appear as well-defined unilocular anechoic lesions with a thin wall, sometimes with septations and wall calcifications (Fig. 18) [1].
Secondary cysts or pseudocysts differ from congenital cysts in that they lack an epithelial lining and mostly develop secondarily from previous trauma, infarction, or infection [16]. The US findings of secondary cysts are similar to those of congenital cysts, to the point that they cannot be reliably distinguished; however, secondary cysts with hemorrhage or infection may show internal debris and thicker walls [1,4].
Splenic Infarction
The splenic artery is a terminal artery; therefore, occlusion of its branches causes splenic infarction [1,18]. Underlying hemolytic anemia (such as sickle cell disease), hematological malignancy, vasculitis, cardiac emboli, portal hypertension, and infiltrative disorders are known predisposing conditions [5,19]. US changes can be seen at least 24 hours after infarction, as a wedge-shaped hypoechoic area and lack of a color Doppler signal (Fig. 19) [1]. In addition, an infarction may show a mass-like appearance with irregular margins, or a multinodular or mottled appearance. In the chronic stage, the area of splenic infarction shrinks, and the echogenicity increases with fibrosis.
Gamna-Gandy Bodies
Gamna-Gandy bodies are siderotic nodules resulting from focal organized hemorrhagic infarcts [6], which can occur in patients with congestive splenomegaly, sickle cell disease, hemolytic anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, acquired hemochromatosis, and multiple blood transfusions [20]. On US, they typically appear as multiple punctate hyperechoic foci scattered in the spleen (Fig. 20) [6].
Peliosis
Splenic peliosis is a rare pathology characterized by sinusoidal dilatation and the formation of multiple cyst-like, blood-filled cavities within the parenchyma [21]. While the liver is the most commonly affected organ, any organ can be involved, including the spleen. US shows multiple poorly defined hypoechoic lesions (Fig. 21) and hyperechoic thrombosis [12].
Conclusion
US of the spleen is readily performed as part of abdominal imaging, and the detection of splenic lesions is increasing. However, the differential diagnosis is challenging because a single disease category of the spleen can show various US findings, while many different splenic lesions have overlapping US findings. Table 2 presents a summary of the US findings of various splenic lesions. Most infectious and inflammatory lesions are seen as multiple small hypoechoic lesions, pyogenic abscesses have thick irregular walls, and parasitic infections typically show cystic lesions. Splenic hemangiomas have similar US features to hepatic hemangiomas. Hamartomas are typically isoechoic to hyperechoic on grayscale US and hypervascular on color Doppler US. Lymphangiomas are seen as thin-walled multilocular cysts. Lymphomas show various US features, ranging from solid nodules or masses to a miliary pattern and diffuse infiltration. Metastatic lesions in the spleen also show variable findings depending on the primary malignancy. Angiosarcoma shows splenomegaly with diffuse infiltration or multiple heterogeneous masses. Splenic infarction, for which various predisposing conditions have been identified, is seen as a wedge-shaped hypoechoic area. US examinations of the spleen can help narrow down the differential diagnosis and provide ancillary findings of the patient’s condition. Moreover, US-guided biopsy of the target lesion in the spleen facilitates a minimally invasive and confirmative diagnosis.
Notes
Author Contributions
Conceptualization: Choi G, Kim KA. Data acquisition: Choi G, Kim KA, Lee J, Park YS, Lee J, Choi JW, Lee CH. Data analysis or interpretation: Choi G, Kim KA, Lee J. Drafting of the manuscript: Choi G, Lee J. Critical revision of the manuscript: Choi G, Kim KA, Park YS, Lee J, Choi JW, Lee CH. Approval of the final version of the manuscript: all authors.
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
References
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Notes
Key point
Ultrasonography is a useful and valuable tool for the detection, diagnosis, and follow-up of splenic abnormalities.