Retrospective Review of the Role of Abdominal Imaging in Evaluation of Cytopenias

Abstract

This study consists of a retrospective chart review to evaluate the use of abdominal imaging to aid in the diagnosis of chronic cytopenia. Patients with unclear aetiology of chronic cytopenia often require complex work-up, and it would be beneficial to develop an algorithm to make this process more efficient. Abdominal imaging is a non-invasive procedure that may provide useful clinical diagnostic information as part of an algorithm for this subset of patients. The medical records of 36 patients were reviewed to determine the association between abdominal imaging results and other components of diagnostic work-up. Abdominal imaging was positive for 21 (58.33%) individuals. Following imaging, 8 individuals (22.22%) required bone marrow biopsy and 12 individuals (33.33%) required frequent monitoring, which were non-significant associations. However, positive imaging results were significantly associated with increased BMI as well as severity of thrombocytopaenia. This study suggests that abdominal imaging warrants further study as a potentially useful addition to diagnostic work-up for chronic cytopenia of unknown aetiology.

Keywords

• abdominal imaging
• abdominal ultrasound
• cytopenias