THE "STARRY NIGHT" SPLENIC ANGIOGRAM

CONTRAST MATERIAL OPACIFICATION OF THE MALPIGHIAN BODY MARGINAL SINUS CIRCULATION IN SPLEEN TRAUMA

¹ Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiology, University of N. C. School of Medicine.
² Attending Radiologist, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of N. C. School of Medicine.
³ Radiology Resident, University of N. C. School of Medicine.
⁴ Professor of Pathology and Chairman of Department of Hospital Laboratories, University of N. C. School of Medicine.

In traumatized human spleens, focal 0.3-1 cm. areas of contrast material staining appear to represent the malpighian marginal sinus circulation. This circulation, when seen, is static or very slow moving. Extravasation of blood and contrast material also may be present in the marginal sinus network. The identification of diffuse or localized small areas of contrast material in the splenic angiogram of the traumatized patient suggests splenic contusion, intrasplenic hematoma, or both. The splenic angiographic appearance described may be compared to the globular appearance of stars, as depicted by van Gogh in his painting "The Starry Night."

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