CT OF CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED ABNORMALITIES OF THE SPLEEN

Computed tomography (CT) is an excellent imaging modality for demonstr ating the size, shape, and position of the spleen, as well as for depi cting intrasplenic pathologic features. However, it has limited value in the diagnosis of splenic involvement by lymphoma. Greater accuracy in diagnosing splenic lymphoma may be obtained by demonstrating adenop athy in the splenic hilum or by showing focal splenic defects, in addi tion to splenomegaly. In discussing the normal anatomy of the spleen, congenital variations (eg, accessory spleen, polysplenia, asplenia, an d wandering spleen), and acquired abnormalities such as those resultin g from trauma, infection, infarction, cysts, and neoplasms, this artic le provides evidence that CT is valuable in showing a wide variety of splenic variations and abnormalities while simultaneously allowing eva luation of the remaining intraabdominal structures. The cases presente d demonstrate both the value and limitations of CT in the examination of patients with congenital and acquired abnormalities of the spleen.