Ultrasound assessment of normal liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions in southwest Nigerian children: a bedside formula for sonologists

Background Knowledge of the normal sizes of the liver, spleen, and kidneys is important to radiologists when assessing for pathology using ultrasound scan. The need for a local determination of a easy-to-use formula for estimating the expected normal sonographic dimensions of these organs in children in order to serve as baseline when assessing them for pathology cannot be over emphasized. Purpose To determine ultrasonographic sizes of the liver, spleen, and kidneys among primary school children in southwestern Nigeria and correlate these with anthropometric measures to provide local reference data and an easy-to-use formula for assessing these organs for pathology in clinical practice. Material and Methods This is an observational, cross-sectional study using 1000 public primary school children in Ogbomoso. Sonographic dimensions of their liver, spleen, and both kidneys with anthropometric parameters were obtained and correlated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results The liver span was higher in boys than in girls (P = 0.048) while the left lobe of the liver was higher in girls than in boys (P = 0.003). The spleen length was higher in boys than in girls (P = 0.011). There was no gender difference in kidney dimensions (P > 0.05). All anthropometric measures correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with organ dimensions. Body surface area is the strongest predictor of the liver and kidney sizes (P < 0.001) and height for spleen size (P < 0.001). Conclusion Nomograms for the liver, spleen, and kidneys and regression equations for estimating the dimensions of these organs were formulated based on the best multivariate correlates.