Diagnostic ultrasound ( PDFDrive )

CHAPTER 5 The Spleen 141
A
B
C
D
FIG. 5.2 Bare Area of the Spleen. Variability in the relationship of the spleen to the anterior retroperitoneal surface is demonstrated in patients
with ascites. (A) This spleen has no bare area. The splenorenal ligament (arrow) is outlined on both sides by ascitic luid. (B) Part of the lower
pole of the spleen is fused posteriorly. (C) Lower pole is fused to the retroperitoneum (arrows). (D) Large proportion of this patient’s spleen is
fused posteriorly. Note the close relation of the spleen to the left kidney (K).
feature is analogous to the bare area of the liver and can be helpful
in distinguishing intraperitoneal from pleural luid collections.
he normal adult spleen is convex superolaterally, is concave
inferomedially, and has a homogeneous echo pattern (Videos
5.1 and 5.2). he spleen lies between the fundus of the stomach
and the diaphragm, with its long axis in the line of the let 10th
rib. he diaphragmatic surface is convex and is usually situated
between the 9th and 11th ribs. he visceral or inferomedial surface
has gentle indentations where it comes into contact with the
stomach, let kidney, pancreas, and splenic lexure. he spleen
is suspended by the splenorenal ligament, which is in contact
with the posterior peritoneal wall, the phrenicocolic ligament,
and the gastrosplenic ligament. he gastrosplenic ligament is
composed of the two layers of the dorsal mesentery that separate
the lesser sac posteriorly from the greater sac anteriorly.
Its weight is related to the patient’s age and gender; the spleen
usually weighs less than 150 g on autopsy (range, 80-300 g). 3 In
adults, the spleen decreases in size and weight with advancing
age and is smaller in women. It also increases slightly during
digestion and can vary in size according to the nutritional status
of the body.
Splenic functions include phagocytosis, fetal hematopoiesis,
adult lymphopoiesis, immune response, and erythrocyte
storage.