Computed tomographic features of the normal spleen in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)

Chavdar Chernev, Tessa Procter, Ingrid Isaac, Bronwyn Koterwas, Kevin Eatwell, Emma Keeble, Jenna Richardson, Tobias Schwarz

Background: The spleen is an often-overlooked organ in rabbits, with limited information on its normal CT anatomy and morphology. The authors aimed to document the visibility, size, shape, and location of the normal rabbit spleen on CT images and establish reference ranges and variations.

Study: This was a retrospective, observational, single-institutional study of 115 rabbits that underwent abdominal CT scans with pre- and postcontrast sequences. The rabbits had no evidence of splenic or systemic disease based on clinical, hematological, and biochemical criteria.

Methods: The spleen was assessed for visibility, location, volume, shape, length, and attenuation by different reviewers using a DICOM viewer software. A pilot study was performed to validate the identification and measurement of the spleen on CT images using postmortem specimens. Statistical analysis was performed to test for correlations and agreements among variables.

Results: The spleen was clearly and reliably identified on postcontrast CT images as an elongated, mostly banana- or tongue-shaped organ located along the greater gastric curvature. The mean length of the spleen was 40 mm, the mean volume was 1 mL, the mean splenic-volume-to-body-weight ratio was 0.5 mL/kg, and the mean attenuation was 80 HU for precontrast and 320 HU for postcontrast CT images. The splenic volume was weakly positively correlated with body weight and splenic length.

Limitations: The study lacked histopathological confirmation of splenic normalcy and splenic weight measurement. The study population was limited to conscious rabbits scanned with a specific CT protocol and restraining device. The study did not account for possible variations in splenic size and shape due to physiological factors such as splenic contraction or congestion.

Conclusions: The study provided useful information on the normal CT appearance and morphology of the rabbit spleen, which can be used as a reference for future studies and clinical cases. The study also demonstrated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced CT for evaluating the spleen in this species.

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