Sexual Dimorphism in the Dimensions of Spleen in the Population of North-West Ethiopia – An Observational Radiographic Study

ABSTRACT

Background: An observational study was done on 380 patients (180 male and 200 female) whose abdominal USG was found normal and no disorder was diagnosed which alters the size of spleen to estimate normal linear dimensions of spleen in North-west Ethiopa adult population. Methods: The study was conducted between October 2017 and February, 2018 in the University of Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia. Informed verbal consent was taken. The sonographic measurements of spleen length, width and thickness were performed on both genders. Results: Two – tailed t-test analysis indicated a statistically significant difference (p<0.0001) between mean splenic dimensions (length, width, thickness, and volume) of male and female subjects. In all measurements, the mean spleen dimensions of male were greater than female. Conclusion: The present study provided the normal reference value and range of adult spleen size in both genders for the adults of Northwest Ethiopia, which will be useful for clinical assessment of spleen under any pathological conditions.