Note: while the calculator can be used to estimate organ volume and weight in the adult and pediatric population, the recommendations shown only apply to adult patients.
Notes
Measurements
- L is defined as the cranio-caudal distance between the first and last slices in the axial plane where the spleen is depicted
- D is the largest measureable long axis diameter in the axial plane
- T is the largest perpendicular dimension to D in the axial plane
Splenic index
- The formula:
- Splenic index = L x D x T
- The normal range of the index is 120-480
Spleen volume
- Organ volume is calculated using the following formula:
- Spleen volume (cm3) = 30 + 0.58 x L x D x T
- The normal range of the estimated volume in healthy individuals with this formula is: 107.2 – 314.5 cm3 (mean: 214.6 cm3)
- In a later study using volumetry 236.89±77.58 cm3 was found to be the average normal spleen size, whilst thresholds of 314.47 and 430.84 cm3 were determined for mild and massive splenomegaly respectively
- In comparison, a study done by Japanese researchers showed much lower values for average spleen volume (112 cm3) and normal range (32-209 cm3)
- Body height and gender are also known to influence normal splenic volume, with men and taller individuals on average having larger organ volume
- This chart shows the range of normal spleen volume relative to body height and sex, and can be used to better correlate the estimated splenic volume with the expected normal volume of in different patient cohorts
- Important caveat: the range of reported normal spleen volumes is variable across the literature, and also heavily dependent on patient population, gender, body height, and potentially age
- These should be therefore always factored into the assessment of splenic volume
Spleen weight
- Estimated weight is calculated using the following formula:
- Spleen weight (grams) = splenic volume x 1.05
- where 1.05 g/cm3 is the estimated specific gravity of the spleen
- The following normal range values were established in autopsic studies of healthy, adults(!):
- men: 28-226 g
- women: <230 g
- Molina DK, DiMaio VJ. Normal organ weights in men: part II-the brain, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2012 Dec;33(4):368-72. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31823d29ad. PMID: 22182984.
- Molina DK, DiMaio VJ. Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Sep;36(3):182-7. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000175. PMID: 26108038.
- It should be noted that that the in vivo and ex vivo weight of the spleen can significantly differ due to changes in blood content, and can be as much as 25-50% higher in vivo
- Therefore, this calculator uses the following imaging-based normal range recommended by Prassopoulos et al.:
- 112 – 359 g
- Again it has to be emphasized that similarly to splenic volume, organ weight is also dependent on patient demographics
Last updated: 2021-11-21