PURPOSE

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the splenic vein diameter and longitudinal size of the spleen in patients with portal hypertension in whom Gamna-Gandy bodies were present in their spleen with those of cirrhotic patients without Gamna-Gandy bodies and a control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 2001 and February 2006, patients in whom Gamna-Gandy bodies were detected in their spleen and the number of patients who had been undergone magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with the diagnosis of chronic liver disease were determined. A total of 43 cases with Gamna-Gandy bodies were noted. Out of these patients, a case of lymphoma was excluded from the study. Additional 3 cases with splenic vein thrombosis were not included in statistical analysis. Accordingly, the splenic vein diameter and longitudinal size of the spleen in 39 patients (group 1: 12 women, 27 men; mean age, 38.5 years) with portal hypertension in whom Gamna-Gandy bodies were detected in their spleen on T1-weighted gradient-echo MR images between July 2001 and February 2006 were measured. The values obtained were compared with those of 29 cirrhotic patients without Gamna-Gandy bodies (group 2: 14 women, 15 men, mean age 48.2 years) and control group (group 3: 13 women, 18 men, mean age 46.8 years). The differences between the groups were analyzed with ANOVA and student-t test.

RESULTS

Gamna-Gandy bodies were detected in 6.3% (42/670) of patients with chronic liver disease. The mean longitudinal axis of the spleen (20.2±4.2 cm) in group 1 was significantly greater (p<0.001) than in group 2 (14.4±3.9 cm). The mean splenic vein diameter was significantly larger in group 1 (14.3±4.0 mm) than those in groups 2 and 3 (11.2±3.2 mm and 7.8±1.4 mm, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The splenic vein diameter and longitudinal size of the spleen in portal hypertensive patients with Gamna- Gandy bodies are significantly larger than that of cirrhotic patients without Gamna-Gandy bodies and that of control group.