Selective Spleen Scintigraphy in the Evaluation of Accessory Spleen/Splenosis in Splenectomized/Nonsplenectomized Patients and the Contribution of SPECT Imaging.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the results of selective spleen scintigraphy (SSS) and contribution of SPECT imaging to planar imaging in splenectomized and nonsplenectomized patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 112 SSSs of 96 patients. The patients were divided into two groups as splenectomized group (SP) and non-splenectomized group (NSP). The findings were evaluated by comparing the results of surgery,computerized tomography (CT), ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, whether or not differences existed between the results of SPECT and planar imaging was determined.

RESULTS

Of 66 scintigraphies performed in the NSP group, 3 (5%) had positive, 3 (5%) had suspicious and 60 (90%) had negative results. In the NSP group, 28 patients underwent surgery and 12 accessory spleens were removed. Only 3 of these tissues were detected by scintigraphy. Of 46 patients in the SP group, 26 (57%) had positive findings whereas 20 (43%) had negative scintigraphies. Twelve accessory spleens/splenosis were removed surgically in 10 patients with a positive SSS in the SP group. There were no false positive results in both groups of patients who underwent surgery. There was no significant difference between the results of SSS, USG and CT. Of 39 patients to whom SPECT were performed, 10 had positive results both with planar and SPECT imaging. On the other hand, 26 patients, 3 of whom had suspected findings in SPECT images, demonstrated negative results when evaluated with both imaging methods. Remaining 3 were considered suspicious by only SPECT images for the hilar area.

CONCLUSION

SSS has high specificity in the detection of accessory spleens/splenosis. The sensitivity of SSS is low in the NSP group,but higher in the SP group. There is no contribution of SPECT imaging to planar imaging.