Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 16, Issue 5 345-347, Copyright © 1997 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Normal splenic size in a Chinese population

W. K. Loftus and C. Metreweli
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.

To establish the normal range for the length of the spleen in the Hong Kong Chinese population we used ultrasonography to examine 783 patients not known to have any condition likely to be associated with splenic enlargement. The results show a rapid growth in splenic length up to age 20 years, followed by a mild decrease. A statistically significant difference is seen between male and female subjects from about 15 to 40 years with spleens of men being about 0.5 cm longer. Using 2 standard deviations above the mean as a guide, we recommend 12 cm as the upper limit of normal in this population.

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