Reference ranges of liver and spleen dimensions in term infants: sonographic measurements.

PURPOSE: To determine reference values of ultrasonographic measurements of the liver and spleen in newborns and to provide a reference chart to use easily in daily practice.

METHODS: In this prospective study, spleen and liver dimensions were evaluated in 384 healthy newborns with a gestation age ≥37 weeks in an obstetrics clinic and neonatal intensive care unit with sonography within the first week of life. Relationships of all dimensions with sex, gestational age, height, and weight were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the two sexes in any dimensions of the liver and spleen (p > 0.05). Longitudinal and anteroposterior dimensions of the liver and spleen showed no correlation with the gestational age. All dimensions of the liver and spleen showed a high correlation with the height and weight. Weight was the best correlated with all dimensions.

CONCLUSION: The reference values of spleen and liver lengths and diagrams from this study may be useful in the sonographic evaluation of the spleen and liver in newborns.