ISSN:
1432-0509
Keywords:
Key words: Color Doppler—Splenic artery—Aneurysm—Ultrasound—Collaterals (splenorenal shunt).
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: To reevaluate the advantages and limitations of gray-scale and color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of splenic artery (Sp-A) aneurysm. Methods: We reviewed the gray-scale and color Doppler sonograms of five cases with Sp-A aneurysm (four patients with portal hypertension and one patient without portal hypertension). Color Doppler sonography was performed in all five patients, and power Doppler sonography was performed in three. Results: Gray-scale sonography failed to detect the aneurysm in four of five cases because of a surrounding splenorenal (Sp-R) shunt in three patients and marked calcification of the aneurysmal wall in one patient. Pulsed Doppler sonography showed a slightly turbulent pulsatile flow along the aneurysmal wall, which immediately led to the diagnosis in four cases, including the three cases with Sp-R shunt. In one case, color Doppler sonography failed to detect the aneurysm because of a markedly calcified aneurysmal wall, although power Doppler sonography could visualize the aneurysm. Conclusions: Gray-scale sonography is not a useful diagnostic tool for Sp-A aneurysm. Clinicians should use color Doppler sonography in the evaluation of the splenic hilus in patients with Sp-R shunt to find a small Sp-A aneurysm. The addition of power Doppler sonography is helpful in visualizing calcified Sp-A aneurysms.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002619900418
Permalink
