Zebra spleen
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Article Attributes
Zebra spleen, also referred to as psychedelic spleen or more correctly inhomogeneous splenic enhancement refers to athe transient heterogeneous parenchymal enhancement of the spleen parenchyma during the arterial phaseor early portal venous phases of contrast enhancement in CT, MRI, or ultrasound imaging. This
It is due to differentthe differing blood flow velocity in different splenicrates of blood pathways(and contrast) between red pulp (which enhances early) and white pulp (which enhances later). Almost always, a portal venous or delayed phase study will show homogeneous attenuation throughout the spleen (in the absence of pathology).
There are 3 general patterns of enhancement 2:
- archiform: alternating bands of low and high density which may look like rings or zebra stripes
- focal: single area of low density
- diffuse: mottled appearance
Heterogeneity of splenic parenchyma manifested as alternating hypoechoic stripes can also be seen in noncontrast ultrasound examination of spleen with high-frequency linear transducer in childeren with no undelying splenic abnormalities; this has been assumed to be due to the difference in splenic parenchymal structures2.
Clinical importance
Inhomogeneous splenic enhancement can mimic:
-
splenic trauma
- laceration
- contusion
- perisplenic or subcapsular haematoma
- active haemorrhage
- splenic infarct
-<p><strong>Zebra spleen</strong> refers to a transient heterogeneous enhancement of the spleen parenchyma during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement CT, MRI, or ultrasound imaging. This is due to different blood flow velocity in different splenic blood pathways. Heterogeneity of splenic parenchyma manifested as alternating hypoechoic stripes can also be seen in noncontrast ultrasound examination of spleen with high-frequency linear transducer in childeren with no undelying splenic abnormalities; this has been assumed to be due to the difference in splenic parenchymal structures. </p>- +<p><strong>Zebra spleen</strong>, also referred to as<strong> psychedelic spleen</strong> or more correctly<strong> inhomogeneous splenic enhancement</strong> refers to the transient heterogeneous parenchymal enhancement of the <a href="/articles/spleen-1">spleen</a> during the arterial or early portal venous phases of contrast enhancement in CT, MRI, or ultrasound imaging.</p><p>It is due to the differing blood flow rates of blood (and contrast) between red pulp (which enhances early) and white pulp (which enhances later). Almost always, a portal venous or delayed phase study will show homogeneous attenuation throughout the spleen (in the absence of pathology).</p><p>There are 3 general patterns of enhancement <sup>2</sup>:</p><ol>
- +<li>
- +<strong>archiform</strong>: alternating bands of low and high density which may look like rings or zebra stripes</li>
- +<li>
- +<strong>focal</strong>: single area of low density</li>
- +<li>
- +<strong>diffuse</strong>: mottled appearance</li>
- +</ol><p>Heterogeneity of splenic parenchyma manifested as alternating hypoechoic stripes can also be seen in noncontrast ultrasound examination of spleen with high-frequency linear transducer in childeren with no undelying splenic abnormalities; this has been assumed to be due to the difference in splenic parenchymal structures <sup>2</sup>. </p><h4>Clinical importance</h4><p>Inhomogeneous splenic enhancement can mimic:</p><ul>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/splenic-trauma">splenic trauma</a><ul>
- +<li>laceration</li>
- +<li>contusion</li>
- +<li>perisplenic or subcapsular haematoma</li>
- +<li>active haemorrhage</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/splenic-infarction">splenic infarct</a></li>
- +</ul>
References changed:
- 3. Cesta M. Normal Structure, Function, and Histology of the Spleen. Toxicol Pathol. 2006;34(5):455-65. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01926230600867743">doi:10.1080/01926230600867743</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17067939">Pubmed</a>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.