Evaluation of cross-sectional imaging features that aid in the differentiation of benign and malignant splenic lesions

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to investigate the role of cross-sectional imaging in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions based on various imaging features. Methods Database of imaging reports from January 2015 to December 2017 were searched dedicatedly for spleen or splenic terms to identify patients with lesions found either on CT or MRI. The study cohort consisted of patients who had available histological reports or had follow-up imaging for a minimum of one year. Patients were categorized into the benign subcohort if they did not have a history of extra-splenic malignancy, and had a lesion(s) falling into one of these categories: benign histopathology on biopsy, stable size and enhancement, or decreased size on follow-up imaging. Those who had malignant histopathology on biopsy were included in the malignant subcohort. Various morphologic features and enhancement patterns of these lesions were carefully reviewed by two radiologists who were blinded to the final histopathologic diagnosis. Results We identified 161 patients (54 % males, mean age ± SD = 59.7 ± 15.4) including 124 (77 %) in the benign and 37 (23 %) in the malignant subcohort. Benign lesions were more likely to be cystic (21.7 % vs 2.7 %, p Conclusion Smaller lesion diameter, well-defined border and homogeneity favor benign nature of lesions while restricted diffusion should raise suspicion for malignancy.