Preoperative diagnosis of splenic cysts in children by gray scale ultrasonography.

Ultrasonography is a useful noninvasive modality for the diagnosis of splenic cysts in children. Characteristic features plus the typical clinical and radiographic presentation should obviate the need for further more invasive and costly techniques which add little to diagnostic accuracy. Additional advantages offered by ultrasound a minimal patient discomfort, no ionizing radiation, and immediate reassurance to parents that the mass is a cyst. We report two cases of epidermoid splenic cysts preoperatively diagnosed by ultrasonography. The typical sonographic characteristics are presented and the sonographic differential diagnosis is discussed.