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Splenomegaly is a common finding in patients with portal hypertension. In the present study the relation between spleen size and blood flow in the splenic and portal vein was evaluated in 33 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension using pulsed Doppler sonography (Ultramark 9, ATL, Solingen, FRG). There was a significant positive correlation between hilar spleen diameter (HD) and splenic vein diameter (r = .73, p less than .001) as expected as the consequence of portal hypertension. However, a positive correlation between HD and splenic vein flow (SBF) was found (r = .67, p less than .001). Furthermore, there was no negative correlation between HD and flow velocity in the splenic vein (r = .01, n.s.). Portal blood flow (830 +/- 360 ml/min) was fairly constant in spite of considerable variations in SBF (range: 120 to 1200 ml/min). The data of the present study indicate that splenomegaly in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is not simply the consequence of portal congestion resulting in decreased SBF. Rather, increased SBF serves to maintain portal blood flow and thereby contributes to portal hypertension. In few patients (15%) SBF increased to more than 11/min may be an important factor for the severity of portal hypertension. Surgical shunt treatment should be adjusted in these patients.

Despite the progress made in recent years, treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease remains problematic. The highly individual spontaneous course of such conditions always makes an interdisciplinary management strategy mandatory. In view of the fact that continence-preserving procedures are possible in ulcerative colitis as well as bowel-preserving procedures in Crohn's disease, elective interventions in patients who fail to respond to what is accepted as suitable medication may be considered supplementary to the therapeutic spectrum. A consideration of all the factors involved suggests that too many reservations vis-a-vis surgery are no longer justified.

Each abnormal sonographic finding in the gastrointestinal tract requires further evaluation including other diagnostic means, since differentiation of abdominal diseases is not possible by sonography alone. The pathologic finding of a stomach-cocarde is suspicious for a malignoma. Sonographic control is useful in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestinal tract, since intestinal as well as extraintestinal complications determining further treatment can be anticipated.

In 502 patients, length, thickness and width of the spleen as well its location with respect to the ipsilateral kidney were determined by means of ultrasonography, and a relationship was established with the incidence of diseases accompanied by enlargement of the spleen. A significant correlation to the incidence of such diseases was found only with respect to spleen thickness. The probability of a corresponding disease was 80% for a spleen thickness of 5 cm, 90% for 6 cm and 100% for more than 7 cm. A comparison between palpation and ultrasonography supported the fact that enlargement of the spleen can, in many cases, not be ascertained by palpation, but that palpation findings are indeed positive in splenic enlargement of minor degree. The most suitable parameter for ultrasonographic detection of splenomegaly is thus spleen thickness, for which a limit value of 5 cm should be assumed. If the spleen is found to exceed this value, further examinations are indicated to clarify the underlying disease.

Sonographically guided puncture of intra-abdominal and retro-peritoneal masses for cytological diagnostic is widely employed. However, processing of cytological material may result in artifacts and in the case of certain malignant tumours, of benign tumours or diffuse organ changes, cytology is only relatively reliable. Special experience on the part of the investigato is therefore required. Hence, in far-reaching therapeutic decisions such as operation, cytostatic therapy or radiotherapy, diagnosis based on histological findings is preferred. Preliminary experience with a new type of fine needle (Schneidbiopsiekanüle) suitable for obtaining histological material is presented.