Splenic volume measurements on computed tomography utilizing automatically contouring software and its relationship with age, gender, and anthropometric parameters

Abstract

Objective: The present research was conducted to establish the normal splenic volume in adults using a novel and fast technique. The relationship between splenic volume and age, gender, and anthropometric parameters was also examined.

Materials and methods: The splenic volume was measured in 230 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) scans for various indications. Patients with conditions that have known effect on the spleen size were not included in this study. A new technique using volumetric software to automatically contour the spleen in each CT slice and quickly calculate splenic volume was employed. Inter- and intra-observer variability were also examined.

Results: The average splenic volume of all the subjects was 127.4+/-62.9 cm(3), ranging from 22 to 417 cm(3). The splenic volume (S) correlated with age (A) (r=-0.33, p<0.0001), body weight (W) (r=0.35, p<0.0001), body mass index (r=0.24, p<0.0001) and body surface area (BSA) (r=0.31, p<0.0001). The age-adjusted splenic volume index correlated with gender (p=0.0089). The formulae S=W[6.47A(-0.31)] and S=BSA[278A(-0.36)] were derived and can be used to estimate the splenic volume. Inter- and intra-observer variability were 6.4+/-9.8% and 2.8+/-3.5% respectively.

Conclusion: Of the anthropometric parameters, the splenic volume was most closely linked to body weight. The automatically contouring software as well as formulae can be used to obtain the volume of the spleen in regular practice.