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Abdominal ultrasonographic findings in patients with sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia intermedia

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Abstract

Background

The high prevalence and heterogeneity of clinical and haematological phenotypes of sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia intermedia (TI) syndromes in the Greek population constitute a major challenge in routine medical practice.

Purpose

To investigate the spectrum and prevalence of abdominal US findings in these patients.

Materials and methods

The study included 105 patients, 13 homozygous for sickle-cell anaemia (S/S) and 92 with TI syndromes (Th/S, βthal/βthal or βthal/δβthal). The patients' ages ranged from 1 to 54 years, with 49 males and 56 females.

Results

At the time of the examination, 41% of the patients had undergone splenectomy and 23.8% had undergone cholecystectomy. The most frequent US findings (percentages refer to all patients) were: hepatomegaly (70.5%), splenomegaly (48.6%) and cholelithiasis (20%). A bright liver was identified in 3.8% and focal hepatic lesions were present in two patients of the TI group. Functional disorders of the gallbladder concerned mainly patients with sickle-cell syndromes. Of those with S/S, 30.8% had a shrunken spleen. An echogenic pancreas was identified in one patient in each group. Increased renal echogenicity was observed in 17.6% of patients with sickle-cell syndromes. One case of polycystic kidney disease was diagnosed and coexisted with S/S.

Conclusions

The value of US imaging in detecting complications of sickle-cell and TI syndromes is still debated. To our knowledge, there are no previous reports concerning the frequency and spectrum of abdominal US findings in patients with these syndromes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 6-8 Krinon Street, 15772 Athens, Greece

    Marina G. Papadaki

  2. 1st Department of Paediatrics, University of Athens, Agia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Marina G. Papadaki, Antonios C. Kattamis, Irene G. Papadaki, Damianos G. Menegas, Theano P. Georgakopoulou, Anna Mavrommati-Metaxotou & Christos A. Kattamis

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  1. Marina G. Papadaki
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  2. Antonios C. Kattamis
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  3. Irene G. Papadaki
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  4. Damianos G. Menegas
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  5. Theano P. Georgakopoulou
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  6. Anna Mavrommati-Metaxotou
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  7. Christos A. Kattamis
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Correspondence to Marina G. Papadaki.

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Papadaki, M.G., Kattamis, A.C., Papadaki, I.G. et al. Abdominal ultrasonographic findings in patients with sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia intermedia. Pediatr Radiol 33, 515–521 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-003-0950-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-003-0950-5

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