Healing in the traumatized spleen: sonographic investigation.

In 16 patients with abdominal trauma, ultrasonic abnormalities of the spleen were demonstrated shortly after trauma (mean 3.7 days). Initial sonographic abnormalities included: splenic laceration in 3 cases, intrasplenic fluid (hematoma) in 4, splenic inhomogeneity (contusion) in 8, perisplenic fluid (subcapsular hematoma) in 11, intraperitoneal fluid in 10, and a left pleural effusion in 7. Follow-up sonograms showed that pleural effusions and intraperitoneal fluid collections disappeared quickly (2 and 4 weeks, respectively). However, intrasplenic hematomas and contusions usually resorbed over a period of months (up to a year). When followed to complete resolution, the spleen may become normal sonographically or there may be small linear foci of echogenic material, which probably represent scar tissue.