Abstract
Asplenia was suspected in one patient with combined immunodeficiency syndrome and 5 with congenital cardiac anomalies who had Howell-Jolly bodies on peripheral blood smears. 99mTc-sulfur colloid scans were equivocal for absence of the spleen. When they were compared with the 99mTc-PIPIDA hepatobiliary images, a discrepancy in organ morphology between the two scans indicated that the spleen was present, whereas similarity of the two images suggested asplenia. This procedure was useful in establishing asplenia in 4 patients and confirming the presence of a rudimentary or ectopic spleen in 2 others. Unequivocal demonstration of the spleen on the sulfur colloid scans makes the hepatobiliary study unnecessary, while unequivocal demonstration of a normal-appearing liver without splenic activity may warrant a tagged red-cell study for a more complete evaluation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 805-810 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Radiology |
Volume | 145 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1982 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging