Computed Tomographic Assessment of Splenic Size in Healthy Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo): Establishment of Preliminary Observational Ranges and a Case Presentation of Suspected Splenomegaly

The spleen is one of the principal immune-associated organs in avian species, and changes in splenic size may accompany systemic pathological conditions. However, imaging-based data on splenic size in raptors, particularly during the antemortem period, remain limited. This study aimed to describe preliminary observational ranges for splenic size in clinically healthy common buzzards (Buteo buteo) using computed tomography (CT), based on linear measurements obtained in three anatomical planes: transversal, dorsal, and sagittal. Ten clinically healthy adult common buzzards (n = 10) were included in the descriptive analysis. In addition, one common buzzard showing markedly increased splenic dimensions was evaluated separately as an illustrative case and compared descriptively with the observational ranges derived from the clinically healthy group. Based on descriptive statistics and non-parametric percentile analysis, preliminary observational ranges were identified as 7.4-14.1 mm in the transversal plane, 7.2-12.1 mm in the dorsal plane, and 7.6-13.2 mm in the sagittal plane. Splenic measurements obtained from the illustrative case exceeded these ranges substantially in all planes, indicating marked splenic enlargement under the applied imaging protocol. This study provides preliminary CT-based morphometric data on splenic size in the common buzzard. The presented values should be interpreted as descriptive orientation data rather than formal reference intervals and may support the assessment of splenic morphology in clinical and research settings when interpreted alongside other clinical and clinicopathological findings.