MDCT Findings of Splenic Pathology

Abstract

The delineation and characterization of splenic lesions and other abnormalities can be challenging on computed tomography. Many splenic lesions are incidentally found, imaging features tend to overlap, and without the appropriate clinical context, differentials can range from benign to malignant. Radiologists should be familiar with the wide variety of pathologies seen on computed tomography as it is often the first imaging modality a splenic lesion is seen. The purpose of this MDCT-focused review is to understand normal splenic anatomy and its variants, to illustrate and describe typical and atypical imaging patters of inflammatory, infectious, vascular, traumatic, benign, and malignant tumors of the spleen and provide clues in reaching the appropriate differential diagnosis and management.