The sonographic findings in eight cases of splenic infarct at their onset and at different phases of their development have been retrospectively analyzed. A wide range of appearances was seen (single or multiple, rounded or wedge-shaped, echo-free, hypoechoic, and hyperechoic lesions). In our opinion, such variable appearances are related to the age of the infarct (hypoechoic or echo-free in the earlier stages, hyperechoic in healed infarcts). A presumptive diagnosis is possible in the earlier stages since the detection of changes (in echogenicity and/or in size) over a period of time strongly suggests an infarct. On the other hand, a hyperechoic wedge-shaped lesion is fairly typical of healed infarcts. Indexing Words: Spleen . Ultrasound . Splenic infarct Infarction of the spleen may occur as a complication of several diseases (leukemia, sickle cell anemia, valvular heart disease, etc.). Until recently, its diagnosis relied almost entirely on clinical criteria. Among noninvasive imaging techniques that are now available, sonography seems the most suitable for a rapid evaluation of the spleen and, in some cases, for detecting focal abnormalities that may confirm the clinical suspicion. Nevertheless, reports concerning the sonographic appearances of splenic infarcts are as yet scanty. The finding of a highly echogenic area caused by a healed infarct was reported by Taylor' and more recently by Solbiati et a1.2 The sonographic features in a case of acute splenic infarct and the corresponding pathologic findings at surgery were described by Yeh et al.3 A recent prospective study by Weingarten et aL4 based on patients undergoing embolization of the splenic vein describes hypoechoic wedge-shaped defects in acute infarcts. In the present study, we report the sonographic findings and changes with time observed in eight cases of splenic infarct.
Methods
Among those who underwent abdominal examinations in our department over a 2-year period From the Institute of Radiology,