Ultrasound or CT in splenic diseases?

To compare the value of US and CT for the detection and analysis of splenic abnormalities, we reviewed the medical records and imaging findings of 93 patients with 93 proven textural lesions of the spleen, which were visualized by US and/or CT. US revealed the abnormality in 91 (97.8%) patients and CT in 74 (79.6%) patients. US was more sensitive than CT in the detection of malignant lesions, particularly splenic lymphoma, while US and CT were equally effective in benign lesions. In 2 patients, one with sarcoidosis and the other with an acute infarct, the lesion was visualized by CT but not by US. On CT, i.v. injection of contrast material improved both the sensitivity of the examination and the delineation of the abnormality. The echogenicity or the attenuation of the lesions did not usually allow differentiation between the various benign and malignant splenic lesions. US is recommended as the method of choice for splenic imaging.