Ultrasound-derived reference values for neonatal liver and spleen dimensions: a retrospective cohort study

Baran Cengiz Arcagök; Akan Yaman

Article Details

Ultrasound-derived reference values for neonatal liver and spleen dimensions: a retrospective cohort study

Authors:

Baran Cengiz Arcagök | Akan Yaman

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Yenidoğan

Journal:

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.939-945

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358396

pISSN:

2636-8579

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Aims: To determine liver and spleen sizes in preterm and term neonates using ultrasonography during the first week of life, and to examine their associations with gestational age, birth weight, length, gender, and postmenstrual week. Methods: In this retrospective study, 112 neonates 66 preterm, 46 term admitted to a tertiary NICU between June and December 2020 were included. Only infants with normal liver function and without conditions affecting organ size were analyzed. Liver and spleen dimensions were measured by ultrasonography within the first seven postnatal days. Correlations were assessed using Pearson, Bayesian Kendalls, and Bayesian Pearson tests. Regression analyses and comparisons with published data were also performed. Results: In preterm infants, liver size correlated strongly with gestational age r0.825 and spleen size with birth weight r0.777. In term infants, liver size correlated with birth length r0.491 and spleen size with birth weight r0.495. Each 1-week increase in gestational age was associated with a 1.8 mm increase in liver size in preterm infants, while each 100 g increase in birth weight increased spleen size by 0.8 mm in both groups. Conclusion: Liver and spleen sizes are closely linked to gestational age, birth weight, and length in neonates. Population-specific percentile references are recommended to improve clinical assessment accuracy.

 Aims: To determine liver and spleen sizes in preterm and term neonates using ultrasonography during the first week of life, and to examine their associations with gestational age, birth weight, length, gender, and postmenstrual week. Methods: In this retrospective study, 112 neonates 66 preterm, 46 term admitted to a tertiary NICU between June and December 2020 were included. Only infants with normal liver function and without conditions affecting organ size were analyzed. Liver and spleen dimensions were measured by ultrasonography within the first seven postnatal days. Correlations were assessed using Pearson, Bayesian Kendalls, and Bayesian Pearson tests. Regression analyses and comparisons with published data were also performed. Results: In preterm infants, liver size correlated strongly with gestational age r0.825 and spleen size with birth weight r0.777. In term infants, liver size correlated with birth length r0.491 and spleen size with birth weight r0.495. Each 1-week increase in gestational age was associated with a 1.8 mm increase in liver size in preterm infants, while each 100 g increase in birth weight increased spleen size by 0.8 mm in both groups. Conclusion: Liver and spleen sizes are closely linked to gestational age, birth weight, and length in neonates. Population-specific percentile references are recommended to improve clinical assessment accuracy.

 Aims: To determine liver and spleen sizes in preterm and term neonates using ultrasonography during the first week of life, and to examine their associations with gestational age, birth weight, length, gender, and postmenstrual week. Methods: In this retrospective study, 112 neonates 66 preterm, 46 term admitted to a tertiary NICU between June and December 2020 were included. Only infants with normal liver function and without conditions affecting organ size were analyzed. Liver and spleen dimensions were measured by ultrasonography within the first seven postnatal days. Correlations were assessed using Pearson, Bayesian Kendalls, and Bayesian Pearson tests. Regression analyses and comparisons with published data were also performed. Results: In preterm infants, liver size correlated strongly with gestational age r0.825 and spleen size with birth weight r0.777. In term infants, liver size correlated with birth length r0.491 and spleen size with birth weight r0.495. Each 1-week increase in gestational age was associated with a 1.8 mm increase in liver size in preterm infants, while each 100 g increase in birth weight increased spleen size by 0.8 mm in both groups. Conclusion: Liver and spleen sizes are closely linked to gestational age, birth weight, and length in neonates. Population-specific percentile references are recommended to improve clinical assessment accuracy.

 Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, erken yenidoğan döneminde preterm ve term bebeklerde ultrasonografi ile ölçülen karaciğer ve dalak boyutlarını değerlendirmek ve bu ölçümlerin gebelik yaşı, doğum ağırlığı, doğum boyu, cinsiyet ve postmenstrüel hafta ile olan ilişkisini analiz etmektir. Yöntemler: Bu retrospektif çalışmaya, HaziranAralık 2020 tarihleri arasında üçüncü basamak bir hastanenin yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesine yatırılan bebekler dâhil edildi. Karaciğer fonksiyonları normal olan ve organ boyutunu etkileyebilecek altta yatan klinik durumu bulunmayan yenidoğanlar çalışmaya alındı. Karaciğer ve dalak boyutlarına ilişkin ultrasonografik ölçümler postnatal ilk yedi gün içinde gerçekleştirildi. Korelasyon analizleri için Pearson, Bayesian Kendalls ve Bayesian Pearson testleri kullanıldı. Ayrıca regresyon analizleri yapıldı ve önceki literatür ile karşılaştırmalar gerçekleştirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 112 yenidoğan 66 preterm, 46 term dâhil edildi. Preterm bebeklerde karaciğer boyutu ile gebelik yaşı arasında en güçlü korelasyon saptandı r0,825; dalak boyutu ise doğum ağırlığı ile en yüksek korelasyonu gösterdi r0,777. Term bebeklerde karaciğer boyutu doğum boyu ile r0,491, dalak boyutu ise doğum ağırlığı ile r0,495 anlamlı düzeyde ilişkiliydi. Preterm bebeklerde gebelik yaşındaki her bir haftalık artış, karaciğer boyutunda ortalama 1,8 mmlik bir artışa neden olurken; her 100 gramlık doğum ağırlığı artışı her iki grupta da dalak boyutunda yaklaşık 0,8 mmlik bir artışla ilişkiliydi. Sonuç: Yenidoğanlarda karaciğer ve dalak boyutları, gebelik haftası, doğum ağırlığı ve doğum boyu ile yakından ilişkilidir. Bu çalışma, klinik değerlendirmelerde kullanılmak üzere standart ve yerel persentil referanslarının oluşturulması gerekliliğini desteklemektedir.

Article Details

Ultrasound-derived reference values for neonatal liver and spleen dimensions: a retrospective cohort study

Authors:

Baran Cengiz Arcagök | Akan Yaman

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Yenidoğan

Journal:

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.939-945

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358396

pISSN:

2636-8579

Neonate

ultrasound

visceral organs

birth weight

organ sizeYenidoğan

Ultrasonografi

Viseral organlar

Doğum ağırlığı

Organ boyutu

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Baran Cengiz Arcagök | Akan Yaman

Publisher: MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics: Yenidoğan

Journal: Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.939-945

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358396

pISSN: 2636-8579

Issues

Authors:

Baran Cengiz Arcagök | Akan Yaman

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Yenidoğan

Journal:

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.939-945

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358396

pISSN:

2636-8579