Prevalence of abdominal ultrasonographic abnormalities in patients with sickle cell disease
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Abdominal Imaging - Original Article
P: 133-137
September 2008

Prevalence of abdominal ultrasonographic abnormalities in patients with sickle cell disease

Diagn Interv Radiol 2008;14(3):133-137
1. From the Departments of Radiology, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey
2. Departments of Pediatrics, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
3. Department of Pediatrics, Antakya State Hospital, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
4. From the Departments of Radiology, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 22.01.2008
Accepted Date: 05.03.2008
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ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the type and prevalence of abdominal ultrasonographic abnormalities in patients with sickle cell disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 102 patients with sickle cell disease at the Center of Hemoglobinopathy of the Antakya State Hospital were screened for intra-abdominal abnormalities by abdominal ultrasonography (US). Eightyfour patients were homozygous for sickle-cell disease (S/S), and 18 patients were compound heterozygotes for sickle cell-ß thalassemia (S/ßthal). At the time of examination, 15.7% (16/102) of patients had undergone splenectomy, and 18.6% (19/102) of patients had undergone cholecystectomy.

RESULTS

The most frequent US findings (expressed as percentages of all patients) were hepatomegaly (71.6%), renal enlargement (30.4%), autosplenectomy (33.3%), cholelithiasis (30.4%) and splenomegaly (17.4%). A bright liver was identified in 6 patients (5.9%), an echogenic pancreas in 4 patients (3.9%), and pancreatic punctate echogenic foci were identified in 5 patients (4.9%). Medullary or diffusely increased renal echogenicity was observed in 16 patients (15.7%). Sonographic findings typical of renal papillary necrosis were observed in one patient with S/S. Periportal lymphadenopathy was detected in 10 (11.9%) of 84 patients of the S/S group, and 2 (11.1%) of 18 patients of S/ßthal group.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal ultrasonographic imaging of patients with sickle cell disease revealed a high prevalence of abdominal abnormalities, especially in solid organs.