What is the function of the accessory spleen?
An accessory spleen resembles normal spleen in structure and in immunological function so in splenectomy for non haematologic causes as in rupture of a primary spleen it may be a source of preservable splenic tissue.
What is accessory spleen symptoms?
Patients have acute abdominal pain, and the site of pain depends on the location of the accessory spleen. They may also have nausea, vomiting, fever, and leukocytosis (4, 6, 24). Patients with chronic intermittent torsion may have a history of relapsing and remitting pain symptoms (5, 24, 25, 26).
Can a tumor be mistaken for an accessory spleen?
The accessory spleen is a common congenital anomaly, typically asymptomatic and harmless to the patient. However, in some clinical cases, this anomaly becomes significant as it can be mistaken for a tumour or lymph node and be missed during a therapeutic splenectomy.
What is an Intrapancreatic accessory spleen?
An intrapancreatic accessory spleen is a splenunculus within the pancreatic parenchyma. Differentiating this finding from other pancreatic neoplasms is important to avoid unnecessary surgery.
What are the side effects of spleen removal?
But as with any surgery, splenectomy carries the potential risk of complications, including:
- Bleeding.
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Injury to nearby organs, including your stomach, pancreas and colon.
Is spleen removal a major surgery?
Removing your spleen is a major surgery and leaves you with a compromised immune system. For these reasons, it’s only performed when truly necessary. The benefits of a splenectomy are that it can resolve several health issues such as blood diseases, cancer, and infection that could not be treated any other way.
Does splenectomy shorten life expectancy?
Although the series of patients is small, it seems that splenectomy did not have an adverse effect on life expectancy. The haematological status and the quality of life improved after splenectomy in 17 of 19 patients.