Sonographic measurements for spleen size in healthy Saudi children and correlation with body parameters

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is commonly the first-line imaging modality for assessing the visceral organ dimensions without any risk of radiation. An abnormal size of the spleen may indicate disease, but the evaluation is challenging because of the normal size changes with age. In addition, published normal value charts for children may vary by population and methods. OBJECTIVES: Determine normal growth curves for splenic length in relationship to sex, age, body weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area of healthy children in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: A retrospective review of ultrasonography images SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included all normal ultrasonography exams of splenic length (from full-term neonates to 16 years of age) performed between 2003 and 2018. The greatest longitudinal distance of the spleen from the dome to the tip (splenic length) measured at the hilum in the coronal plane was obtained by ultrasonography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between the longitudinal length of the spleen and sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, and body surface area. SAMPLE SIZE: 1028 healthy children RESULTS: Height had the most significant correlation with the length of the spleen (P<.001). There was a consistent difference in splenic length according to sex. The spleen was longer in males than in females in children older than 2 years. In terms of splenic growth according to age, our data showed a statistically significant correlation between the ages of 0-24 months and 2-16 years. There was a significant difference between cases from Saudi Arabia, the United States (P=.023) and India (P=.045). CONCLUSION: We developed scatter plots between splenic lengths and body parameters among Saudi children for children from 0 day to 24 months and children from 2 years to 16 years for reference. LIMITATION: Retrospective study. Ultrasound techniques in patient positioning, and cursor placement differed from other studies, which can affect measurements of splenic length. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: None.