Koenraad J Mortelé1, Bart Mortelé, Stuart G Silverman. 1. Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, USA. kmortele@partners.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and CT features of the accessory spleen. CONCLUSION: Accessory spleens are present in 16% of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Typically, accessory spleens appear on CT scans as well-marginated, round masses that are smaller than 2 cm and enhance homogeneously on contrast-enhanced images. When accessory spleens are smaller than 1 cm, their attenuation may be lower than that of the spleen because of partial volume effects. Their most frequent location (22%) is posteromedial to the spleen; anterolateral to the upper pole of the left kidney; and lateral, posterior, and superior to the tail of the pancreas. Familiarity with these characteristic features may differentiate them from other pathologic findings in the upper abdomen.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and CT features of the accessory spleen. CONCLUSION: Accessory spleens are present in 16% of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Typically, accessory spleens appear on CT scans as well-marginated, round masses that are smaller than 2 cm and enhance homogeneously on contrast-enhanced images. When accessory spleens are smaller than 1 cm, their attenuation may be lower than that of the spleen because of partial volume effects. Their most frequent location (22%) is posteromedial to the spleen; anterolateral to the upper pole of the left kidney; and lateral, posterior, and superior to the tail of the pancreas. Familiarity with these characteristic features may differentiate them from other pathologic findings in the upper abdomen.