Ultrasonographic parameters of the liver, spleen and kidneys among a cohort of school children in the Gampaha district

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Liver, spleen and kidney dimensions on uitrasonography vary with age, weight and ethnicity. Reference standards for these parameters in normal Sri Lankan children are not available. Our objective was to establish normative data for the longitudinal length of the liver, spleen and kidneys in healthy children living in the Gampaha District. METHOD: A total of 357 children between the ages of 5 to 12 years were selected from two randomly selected schools in the Gampaha District. A questionnaire was administered to the parents after obtaining informed written consent. Participants were screened for risk factors for organomegaly and were examined by a medical officer. Ultrasonographic assessment was done using a high resolution real-time scanner with a 3.5MHz convex transducer by a trained medical officer. Children with abnormalities in the Ultrasonographic appearance of organs were excluded. RESULTS: The study comprised 332 children (176 girls, 53%). There was no difference in organ dimensions between the two genders (p > 0.05). Body weight showed the best correlation with liver, spleen and kidney dimensions. Age significantly correlated with the longitudinal length of the liver and height significantly correlated with spleen length. Percentile graphs for the longitudinal length of the liver, spleen, right and left kidneys were developed in relation to body weight.