Background/aims: The purpose of the present study was to examine variations in spleen size in adults.
Methodology: The spleen volume was measured by computed tomography in 150 healthy donors for liver transplantation. The correlations between spleen volume and age, gender, body weight and body surface area were analyzed.
Results: The mean volume of the spleen was 112 cm3, ranging from 32 to 209 cm3. The spleen volume significantly correlated with age (R = 0.36, p = 0.0002), but not with body weight or surface area. Gender did not influence the variation in spleen size.
Conclusions: A crude normal range stratified by age should provide useful information in the diagnosis of splenomegaly.