The Effect of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts on the Size of Spleen

Abstract

No previous study has yet reported the effects of surgical treatment of hydatid cysts on spleen volume. Our aim was to use computed tomography images to evaluate the volume differences in the spleen in postoperative periods in patients who had undergone operations for hydatid cysts. The abdominal computed tomography scans of 20 patients who had undergone drainage of a hydatid cyst and omentopexy operation were examined retrospectively. The volume of the liver, the cyst, and the spleen were estimated using the Cavalieri principle of stereological methods. The volume fraction of the hydatid cyst to the liver was also estimated using the obtained volume data. The volumes of the spleen (± SD) were 302.0 ± 115.1 cm3 and 259.5±82.4 cm3 in the postoperative 1st week and 6 months, respectively (p<0.05). The volumes of the liver (± SD) were 2264.0 ± 719.2 cm3 and 1651.0 ± 265.6 cm3 in the postoperative 1st week and 6 months, respectively (p<0.05). The liver volume decreased significantly during the healing process (p<0.05). The mean cyst volume was 417.4 ± 649.9 cm3. The volume fraction of the cyst within the liver was 15.2±21.0%. There were no correlations among liver, spleen, and cyst size of the patients (p>0.05). The volume of spleen decreased after hydatid cyst surgery. This may be due to the decreased portal venous pressure of the liver. Additionally, the loss of immune stimulation may have resulted in reduction in splenic volume. Our results also indicated that stereological methods can be used to monitor volume changes of the liver and spleen.

Keywords

• Hepatic hydatid cyst
• Splenomegaly
• Cavalieri principle
• Stereology
• Computed tomography

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