The radioisotope spleen scan in the assessment of patients with suspected spleen trauma.

The radioisotope spleen scan was reviewed in 29 patients with suspected trauma of the spleen who had been admitted for observation to a surgical ward. At the time of the study, all patients had stable pulse rates and blood pressures. The scans of six patients showed space defects and, of these, splenic injury was subsequently proven operatively in five patients. As a detector of splenic trauma, the radionuclide scan proved to be reliable. Although the findings of radioisotope scanning are not specific for trauma, the interpretation of the scan in conjunction with other observations increases the accuracy of diagnosis.