Sonographic measurements of the normal liver, spleen, pancreas, and portal vein.

Abstract

Normal values and upper limits (95th percentile) of liver, spleen, pancreas, and portal vein size were determined prospectively with ultrasound in 915 healthy subjects. Sex, age, weight, height, and body surface area were determined in each case. Since correlation of longitudinal and transverse organ diameters with physical data was poor (r less than or equal to 0.3), the authors do not consider it necessary to correct the measurements accordingly. However, the liver is oriented longitudinally in slender subjects and transversely in heavy subjects; thus both longitudinal and anteroposterior diameters need to be measured, since the longitudinal diameter alone will give too high or too low a value, respectively.

Correlation between clinical evaluation of liver size versus ultrasonography evaluation according to body mass index (BMI) and biotypes

“…in a study of 915 healthy participants, niederau and colleagues 15 also found similar values; the mean value was 10.5 ± 1.5 on the midclavicular line. in a random sample of 2,080 participants including healthy and ill adults, Kratzer and colleagues 14 found an ultrasonic mean value of 14 ± 1.7 cm on the midclavicular line.…”

“…this is not true in the literature. in a study of 915 healthy adults, niederau and colleagues 15 found a significant difference between genders, but they did not specify the measurement values. in a study of 116 adults, castell 11 concluded that gender is a determining factor for liver size.…”

“…Kratzer and colleagues 14 also found a correlation between body mass index and liver measurement, and discovered that the higher the individual's bMi, the larger the liver size. niederau and colleagues 15 also found that besides the surface of body mass, body weight influences liver size. Konus and colleagues 16 found a correlation (r = 0.80) between body weight and liver dimensions.…”

Clinical versus ultrasound examination in the evaluation of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni in endemic areas

“…Let us point out one limitation of US for this purpose. For instance, the upper borders of the liver and spleen are darkened by the air present in the lower portions of the lungs, and therefore, the limits between liver and spleen and the echogenic line of the lungs images are arbitrarily considered (extrapolated) to be the reference to measure the longitudinal diameters of the organs (Niederau et al 1983).…”

“…This finding is in agreement with our study. However, in their work they used as reference values the sizes of the organs described in 1983 for a Caucasian population, without stratification for height (Niederau et al 1983).…”