Sonographic Dimensions of the Spleen in Healthy School Age Children in a South- South Nigerian Population

Abstract

The spleen is the largest recticuloendothelial organ in the body which increases in size with several pathologies. Its average length and other dimensions have been documented in adults but none in children in our environment. This study is aimed at investigating with Ultrasonography the normal splenic dimensions in healthy school age children and to ascertain any relationship with somatometric parameters. The study comprised of 200 children (94 males and 106 females) aged between 5-16 years, selected from primary and secondary schools in Benin City, Edo State. None had any features suggestive of splenic pathology and haemoglobinopathy was excluded. Their weight, and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated. The splenic dimensions were measured using Sonoace X4 ultrasound machine (Medison, Korea, 2009) having a curvilinear probe with frequency of 3.5-5.0MHz. The data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 (IBM, Chicago, ill, 2008) and test of significance was done with differences considered significant at P<0.05. There were 94 males with a mean age of 10.26 ± 3.57 years and 106 females with a mean age of 10.14 ± 3.46 years. Mean splenic length and volume for males were 8.71 ± 1.39cm, and 152.11 ± 80.07 cm³ respectively. The corresponding values of mean splenic length and volume for females were 8.48 ± 1.43 cm and 145.42 ± 69.53 cm³ respectively. The difference in mean splenic dimensions for both sexes was not statistically significant. Splenic length correlated positively with age (r=0.76), height (r=0.76), weight (r=0.77), and BMI (r= 0.57). There was positive correlation between splenic length and somatometric parameter as well as age in the study population.

Keywords: spleen, healthy, school age children, ultrasound