Accessory spleen

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Accessory spleen
Splenunculus (accessory spleen) photomicrograph.JPG
Histologic section of an accessory spleen
Classification and external resources
Specialty Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 446: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
ICD-10 Q89.0
ICD-9-CM 759.0
DiseasesDB 32864
eMedicine article/896865
Patient UK Accessory spleen
[[[d:Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 863: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|edit on Wikidata]]]

An accessory spleen (supernumerary spleen, splenule, or splenunculus) is a small nodule of splenic tissue found apart from the main body of the spleen. Accessory spleens are found in approximately 10 percent of the population[dubious ][1] and are typically around 1 centimeter in diameter. They form either by the result of developmental anomalies or trauma.[2] They are medically significant in that they may result in interpretation errors in diagnostic imaging[2] or continued symptoms after therapeutic splenectomy.[1]

Causes and locations

Accessory spleen
Details
Latin splen accessorius, lien accessorius
Identifiers
Dorlands
/Elsevier
s_19/12750866
TA Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 744: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
TH {{#property:P1694}}
TE {{#property:P1693}}
FMA {{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terminology
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Accessory spleen.

Accessory spleens may be formed during embryonic development when some of the cells from the developing spleen are deposited along the path from the midline, where the spleen forms, over to its final location on the left side of the abdomen by the 9th–11th ribs. The most common locations for accessory spleens are the hilum of the spleen and adjacent to the tail of the pancreas. They may be found anywhere along the splenic vessels, in the gastrosplenic ligament, the splenorenal ligament, the walls of the stomach or intestines, the pancreatic tail,[3] the greater omentum, the mesentery or the gonads and their path of descent.[4] The typical size is approximately 1 centimeter, but sizes ranging from a few millimeters up to 2–3 centimeters are not uncommon.[2]

Splenogonadal fusion can result in one or more accessory spleens along a path from the abdomen into the pelvis or scrotum. The developing spleen forms near the urogenital ridge from which the gonads develop. The gonads may pick up some tissue from the spleen, and as they descend through the abdomen during development, they can produce either a continuous or a broken line of deposited splenic tissue.[4]

Splenosis is a condition where foci of splenic tissue undergo autotransplantation, most often following physical trauma or splenectomy. Displaced tissue fragments can implant on well vascularized surfaces in the abdominal cavity, or, if the diaphragmatic barrier is broken, the thorax.[5][6]

Significance

If splenectomy is performed for conditions in which blood cells are sequestered in the spleen, failure to remove accessory spleens may result in the failure of the condition to resolve.[1] During medical imaging, accessory spleens may be confused for enlarged lymph nodes or neoplastic growth in the tail of the pancreas,[3] gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands or gonads.[2]

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links