US of a spleen and a liver: features of preparation, research, decoding

It happens that the patient turns to the doctor, not knowing how to explain where he hurts. The phrase that constantly (often) the stomach hurts, does not possess much informativeness for a specialist. However, to find out the cause of the pain is necessary, and the doctor prescribes tests, as well as ultrasound of the spleen and other organs of the abdominal cavity.

What is ultrasound?

Ultrasound research is a method of obtaining information about the state of an organ without instrumental penetration into the internal cavity of the body. A method based on the piezoelectric effect associated with the action of ultrasonic waves is based. The procedure allows you to display the organ under study, find out its dimensions, consider the defects and determine the general condition.

Why are ultrasound of the spleen

The indications for carrying out ultrasound of the spleen are quite a lot. The doctor will definitely appoint a procedure if you suspect a trauma to the organ and not only. There is a whole group of diseases in which such a survey is conducted regularly. It is performed with an interval of 6 months or a year.

Ultrasound of the liver and spleen is prescribed regularly in the following pathologies:

• Anomalies in organ development;
• Blood leukemia;
• Benign or malignant tumors or suspicion of their presence;
• Determining the exact place of metastasis;
• Cirrhosis;
• hepatitis;
• Numerous infectious diseases.

The procedures are carried out without complicated manipulations, but there are some medical recommendations for the preparation for ultrasound of the liver and spleen.

Especially it is necessary to specify, that at children to spend a usual palpation of a lien it is impossible. Therefore, for any suspicion of trauma or pathology, ultrasound is prescribed. This is the only way to confirm or deny fears. Children are prepared for the procedure in much the same way as adults.

Preparatory measures

If the patient is assigned a spleen ultrasound, the preparation is as follows:

1. To be written down on US it is better since morning. The last meal can be at least 9 hours before the examination. Patients with diabetes mellitus can drink a little tea and eat a little dried bread, as long-term starvation is contraindicated.
2. 2 days before the ultrasound is set a sparing diet. It excludes raw vegetables, dairy products, bread and legumes. Such restrictions are not a whim of a doctor, they allow avoiding fermentation in the intestine, which, when the spleen is ultrasound, blocks the organ, not allowing it to be examined.
3. With increased gas formation a person is additionally assigned to receive activated carbon. Dosage is calculated individually. For every 10 kg of body weight, 1 tablet is taken.

It is slightly 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, a break in feeding the baby should be at least three hours. The child, whose age is 2-3 years, must suffer 4 hours, and children older than three years - at least 6 hours. The remaining recommendations are carried out in the same way as for adults.

With the appointment of an ultrasound of the spleen, preparation for the examination will be more qualitative, if 2 days before the procedure to eat a fraction. Portions of food should be minimal, eat better every 4 hours.

Preparation for ultrasound of the liver is not much different from the above actions. Additional measures are taken only by people with a high degree of obesity. They are recommended to cleanse enemas in the morning and evening on the eve of the procedure.

Normal indications, transcript

If an average echogenicity is indicated on the ultrasound examination form, an insignificant vascular net at the organ gates, a splenic vein about 0.5 cm in diameter, the shape of the organ is smoothly bent, and its placement is the left upper side of the abdominal cavity, then one can calm down. This is normal.

During the examination it is necessary to determine whether the spleen has increased. The size of the body determines the ultrasound in an oblique incision - within 12 cm, and in the transverse - within 8 cm. The normal thickness of the organ is about four cm.

Determining the normal size of the children's spleen

If the doctor managed to feel the spleen of the child during palpation, then the organ is enlarged almost 2 times. In addition, there is an exemplary table linking a child's growth and the size that his spleen should have. US sizes of adults determine visually, and the norm for children should be looked on by a special table. In it, for example, it is shown that with an increase of 60-69 cm the length of the spleen can range from 47.8 to 61.3 mm. Here is the thickness and width of the organ. Step of the table - every 10 cm of growth.

Pathological parameters of the spleen

If a patient has leukemia infiltration, then the study of the spleen can show the following pathologies:

• Transformation of organ size (increase);
• Acute edge of the spleen;
• Excessive convexity along the contour;
• Increasing density;
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the region of the spleen gates.

If there is an abscess, then the ultrasound readings will reveal:

• Changes in echostructure (mixed or hypoechoic);
• The appearance of a cyst.

If an injury is caused and there is a hematoma or a rupture of the organ, the examination will show:

• Change in echostructure (mixed or anechogenous);
• Irregular, uneven contours;
• The appearance of fluid in the peritoneum or under the diaphragm.

A timely examination will allow you to make an accurate diagnosis and facilitate the treatment of the patient.

Norm and pathological parameters of ultrasound of the liver

If the patient has ultrasound of the liver, then the size of the right lobe - up to 12 cm, the left one - up to 7 cm, the bile duct - up to 8 mm can be considered the norm. The outer edges of the organ should be even, and its structure - homogeneous.

Using ultrasound, cirrhosis, hepatitis, metastasis, hemangioma, hepatoma, steatosis, cystic neoplasms and other pathologies are detected.

At the same time, the informative value of the examination for the doctor is very high. He can draw accurate conclusions based on the data obtained. In many cases without ultrasound of the liver, it is impossible to dispense with the formulation or refinement of the diagnosis.

To maintain health, you should take care of your body and in case of symptoms you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist is able to understand the problem. The doctor will prescribe the delivery of tests, perhaps an ultrasound will be needed to determine the diagnosis. Do not neglect medical help, as self-medication can harm your health.