It happens that the patient goes to the doctor, not knowing how to explain where he hurts. The phrase that the stomach constantly (often) hurts does not have great information content for the specialist. However, it is necessary to find out the cause of the pain, and the doctor prescribes tests, as well as ultrasound of the spleen and other organs of the abdominal cavity.
What is an ultrasound scan?
Ultrasound examination is a method of obtaining information about the state of a particular organ without instrumental penetration into the internal cavities of the body. The method is based on the piezoelectric effect associated with the action of ultrasonic waves. The procedure allows you to display the organ under study, find out its size, examine defects and determine the general condition.
Why do spleen ultrasound
Indications for ultrasound of the spleen are quite a lot. The doctor will definitely prescribe a procedure for suspecting an organ injury and not only. There is a whole group of diseases in which such an examination is carried out regularly. It is carried out with an interval of 6 months or a year.
Ultrasound of the liver and spleen is prescribed regularly with the following pathologies:
- abnormalities in the development of organs;
- blood leukemia;
- benign or malignant tumors or suspicion of their presence;
- determination of the exact site of metastasis;
- cirrhosis;
- hepatitis;
- numerous infectious diseases.
The procedures are carried out without complex manipulations, but there are still some medical recommendations for preparing for ultrasound of the liver and spleen.
It is especially worth pointing out that in children it is impossible to carry out normal palpation of the spleen . Therefore, with any suspicion of injury or pathology, an ultrasound is prescribed. This is the only way to confirm or refute fears. Children are prepared for the procedure in much the same way as adults.
Preparatory measures
If the patient is prescribed ultrasound of the spleen, the preparation is as follows:
- Signing up for an ultrasound is better in the morning. The last meal may be at least 9 hours before the examination. People with diabetes can drink some tea and eat some dried bread, as long-term fasting is contraindicated.
- 2 days before the ultrasound, a sparing diet is established. Raw vegetables, dairy products, bread and legumes are excluded from it. Such restrictions are not a doctor’s whim, they allow you to avoid fermentation in the intestine, which, with ultrasound of the spleen, blocks the organ, not allowing it to be examined.
- With increased gas formation, a person is additionally prescribed an intake of activated carbon. Dosage is calculated individually. For every 10 kg of body weight, 1 tablet is taken.
A little more difficult to conduct a qualitative examination in children. Children do not tolerate hunger, especially infants and babies under the age of three. In preparation for the study, the break in feeding the baby should be at least three hours. A child, whose age is 2-3 years old, must suffer 4 hours, and children older than three years old - at least 6 hours. The remaining recommendations are implemented in the same way as for adults.
With the appointment of ultrasound of the spleen, the preparation for the examination will be better if you eat fractionally 2 days before the procedure. Servings of food should be minimal, it is better to eat every 4 hours.
Preparation for liver ultrasound is not very different from the above actions. Additional measures are taken only by people with a high degree of obesity. They are recommended in the morning and evening on the eve of the procedure to conduct cleansing enemas.
Normal readings, transcript
If the ultrasound form shows the average echogenicity, a small vascular network at the gates of the organ, the splenic vein in diameter of about 0.5 cm, the shape of the organ is smoothly curved, and its placement is the upper left side of the abdominal cavity, then you can calm down. These are normal indicators.
During the examination, it is necessary to determine whether the spleen has increased. Ultrasound determines the size of the organ in an oblique section - within 12 cm, and in the transverse - within 8 cm. The normal thickness of the organ is about four cm.
Determination of the normal size of the infant spleen
If the doctor was able to palpate the spleen of the child during palpation, then the organ is almost 2 times enlarged. In addition, there is a sample table linking the growth of the child and the size that his spleen should have. Ultrasound determines the size of ultrasound visually, and the norm for children should be looked at in a special table. It, for example, shows that with growth of 60-69 cm, the length of the spleen can range from 47.8 to 61.3 mm. The thickness and width of the organ are also shown here. The step of the table is every 10 cm of growth.
Pathological indicators of the spleen
If a patient has leukemia infiltration, then a study of the spleen may show the following pathologies:
- transformation of the size of the organ (increase);
- sharp edge of the spleen;
- excessive bulge along the contour;
- increase in density;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes in the area of the gate of the spleen.
If there is an abscess, then an ultrasound test will reveal:
- change in echostructure (mixed or hypoechoic);
- the appearance of a cyst.
If an injury is caused and there is a hematoma or organ rupture, then the examination will show:
- change in echostructure (mixed or anechogenic);
- irregular, uneven contours;
- the appearance of fluid in the peritoneum or under the diaphragm.
A timely examination will make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis and facilitate the treatment of the patient.
Norm and pathological parameters of liver ultrasound
If the patient underwent an ultrasound of the liver, then the norm can be considered the size of the right lobe - up to 12 cm, the left - up to 7 cm, the bile duct - up to 8 mm. The outer edges of the organ should be smooth, and its structure should be homogeneous.
With the help of ultrasound, cirrhosis, hepatitis are detected, metastases, hemangiomas are determined, hepatoma, steatosis, cystic neoplasms and other pathologies are detected.
At the same time, the information content of the examination for the doctor is very high. He can draw accurate conclusions based on the data. In many cases, it is impossible to do without an ultrasound of the liver when making or specifying a diagnosis.
To maintain health, you should carefully treat your body and, in case of symptoms, consult a doctor. Only a specialist is able to understand the problem. The doctor will prescribe a test, perhaps an ultrasound scan will be required to determine the diagnosis. Do not neglect medical help, as self-medication can harm your health.