The born-again spleen. Return of splenic function after splenectomy for trauma

Autogenic splenic implantation versus splenectomy in patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for benign or low-grade malignant lesions of the distal pancreas: study protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomized controlled trial (RESTORE)

BACKGROUND

The spleen plays a significant role in the clearance of circulating microorganisms. Sequelae of splenectomy, especially immunodeficiency, can have a deleterious effect on a patient's health and even lead to death. Hence, splenectomy should be avoided and spleen preservation during elective surgery has become a treatment goal. However, this cannot be achieved in every patient due to intraoperative technical difficulties or oncological reasons. Autogenic splenic implantation (ASI) is currently the only possible way to preserve splenic function when a splenectomy is necessary. Experience largely stems from trauma patients with a splenic rupture. Splenic immune function can be measured by the body's clearing capacity of encapsulated bacteria. The aim of this study is to assess the splenic immune function after ASI was performed during minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy.

METHODS

This is the protocol for a multicentre, randomized, open-labelled trial. Thirty participants with benign or low-grade malignant lesions of the distal pancreas requiring minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy will be allocated to either additional intraoperative ASI (intervention) or no further intervention (control). An additional 15 patients who will undergo spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy serve as the control group with normal splenic function. Six months postoperatively, after assumed restoration of splenic function, patients will be given a Salmonella typhi (Typhim Vi™) vaccine. The Salmonella typhi vaccine is a polysaccharide vaccine. The specific antibody titres immediately before and 4 to 6 weeks after vaccination will be measured. The ratio between pre- and post-vaccination antibody count is the primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measures include intraoperative details, length of hospital stay, 30-day mortality and morbidity.

DISCUSSION

This study will investigate the splenic immune function of patients who undergo ASI during minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. The splenic immune function will be measured using the surrogate outcome of specific antibody titre after vaccination with a Salmonella typhi vaccine. The results will reveal details about splenic function after ASI and guide further treatment options for patients when a splenectomy cannot be avoided. It might eventually lead to a new standard of care making sometimes more demanding and time-consuming spleen-preserving procedures redundant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN) ISRCTN10171587. Prospectively registered on 18 February 2019.

Calcification in Thoracic Splenosis

Splenosis is a rare condition described as the implantation of ectopic splenic tissue, usually after a splenic rupture. Thoracic splenosis refers to acquired ectopic splenic tissue found within the thoracic cavity, often caused by thoracoabdominal trauma or surgery. Most cases are asymptomatic and many years may elapse before they are incidentally discovered on chest radiography or thoracic computed tomography. Splenosis is often misinterpreted as a malignancy on initial imaging. We wish to highlight a rare case of thoracic splenosis presenting with calcified and non-calcified nodules. Only two other cases of calcification have been reported in intrathoracic splenosis, neither of which provided CT images of this finding.

Thoracic Splenosis in the Setting of Abdominal Trauma

The uncommon case of thoracic splenosis is presented in this paper. A patient presents to the hospital with the complaint of dyspnea on exertion. He is incidentally found to have thoracic splenosis. The case of thoracic splenosis is a vital topic to discuss in order to accurately diagnose, recognize, treat symptoms, and explore how it can exacerbate pulmonary or cardiology pathology.

Abdominal and pelvic splenosis: atypical findings, pitfalls, and mimics

Splenosis is an acquired form of ectopic splenic tissue that typically arises after trauma or splenectomy. It is often an incidental image finding in an otherwise asymptomatic patient, but the spectrum of symptoms varies based on the site of implantation. Radiologists should be familiar with the imaging features of splenosis to avoid mistaking it for malignancy. Splenosis has identical imaging features to that of the native spleen on US, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine examinations. Therefore, when the radiologic findings support the diagnosis of splenosis, the patient can be spared invasive procedures for tissue sampling.

Case report: A follow up of a major pelvic splenosis

The authors present a case of a young female with extensive pelvic splenosis, which was complicated by torsion of one of the splenosis nodules operated by laparoscopy. She has been followed during several years. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the history, imaging (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and Technetium 99m-labeled embrittled red blood cell scans), and blood workup. The diagnosis of splenosis can be made via complications such as torsion, infarction, hemorrhage, or most often incidentally. The treatment without symptoms is abstention.

Prevalence and distribution of functional splenic tissue after splenectomy

BACKGROUND

Individuals splenectomised for trauma have lower infection rates than those splenectomised for other conditions. Residual functional splenic tissue (FST) after splenectomy may provide ongoing immunological protection.

AIMS

To quantify the prevalence and volume of residual FST post-splenectomy using standard testing.

METHODS

Splenectomised adults were recruited from the Spleen Australia clinical registry. Eligible individuals had been splenectomised at least 1 year prior to their visit and resided in Victoria. Splenic function was identified by evaluating Howell-Jolly bodies and IgM memory B cells. A 99m-Technetium-labelled, heat-denatured erythrocyte scintigraphic scan was performed if splenic function was detected.

RESULTS

Initially, 75 splenectomised individuals (all cause) were recruited, with a median of 58 years of age and who were splenectomised a median of 14 years previously. The most common indications for splenectomy were trauma (30.7%) and haematological disease (28.0%). Scintigraphy identified FST in nine individuals (12.0%). Eight had been splenectomised for trauma. In this cohort, 34.8% of individuals splenectomised for trauma had residual FST. To explore our findings further, 45 additional individuals were recruited, predominately individuals splenectomised for trauma. Twenty-five individuals completed assessments by December 2018. An additional 11 individuals had FST, of whom 9 had been splenectomised for trauma. Overall, we identified 20 individuals with residual FST. Volumes ranged from 2.2 to 216.0 cc. We saw individuals with accessory spleens and splenotic nodules and an individual with both. Seventeen individuals had been splenectomised for trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual FST is commonly seen in individuals splenectomised for trauma. It can present in varying distributions and of varying volume. The clinical significance is unclear.

Gastric splenosis mimicking a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report

BACKGROUND

Mass lesions located in the wall of the stomach (and also of the bowel) are referred to as “intramural.” The differential diagnosis of such lesions can be challenging in some cases. As such, it may occur that an inconclusive fine needle aspiration (FNA) result give way to an unexpected diagnosis upon final surgical pathology. Herein, we present a case of an intramural gastric nodule mimicking a gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

CASE SUMMARY

A 47-year-old Caucasian woman, who had undergone splenectomy for trauma at the age of 16, underwent gastroscopy for long-lasting epigastric pain and dyspepsia. It revealed a 15 mm submucosal nodule bulging into the gastric lumen with smooth margins and normal overlying mucosa. A thoraco-abdominal computed tomography scan showed in the gastric fundus a rounded mass (30 mm in diameter) with an exophytic growth and intense enhancement after administration of intravenous contrast. Endoscopic ultrasound scan showed a hypoechoic nodule, and fine needle FNA was inconclusive. Gastric GIST was considered the most probable diagnosis, and surgical resection was proposed due to symptoms. A laparoscopic gastric wedge resection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. The final pathology report described a rounded encapsulated accumulation of lymphoid tissue of about 4 cm in diameter consistent with spleen parenchyma implanted during the previous splenectomy.

CONCLUSION

Splenosis is a rare condition that should always be considered as a possible diagnosis in splenectomized patients who present with an intramural gastric nodule.

A Very Unusual Pattern of Intraperitoneal and Extraperitoneal Heterotropic Splenic Tissue-Mimicking Metastases Identified on 68Ga-DOTA-NOC Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and 99mTc Heat-denatured Erythrocyte Study

The dissemination and autotransplantation of viable splenic tissue in different anatomic compartments of the body can present a diagnostic dilemma, especially when metastatic disease is suspected. We report a case of a 30-year-old male with well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumor (Grade II) treated with surgery. Follow-up ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-NOC demonstrated a suspicious peritoneal soft-tissue nodule in the right paracolic gutter with increased tracer uptake. In view of splenectomy 10 years ago, the patient underwent ^99mTc heat-denatured erythrocyte study which showed a very unusual pattern of multiple tracer-avid foci of splenic tissue in both intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal distributions. The integration of the patient's history and complementary nuclear imaging results led to the correct diagnosis of splenosis.

Thoracic splenosis: Case report of a symptomatic case

Thoracic splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue in the left thoracic cavity as a result of a splenic injury. This rare pathology is usually asymptomatic and may be discovered on incidental imaging, but the diagnosis often requires invasive procedures such as surgery in order to eliminate a neoplasic origin. We report a rare symptomatic case of a 39-year-old man presenting with chest pain and multiple nodules revealed on a computed tomography scan. The patient underwent a surgical exploration and the pathological studies concluded to a thoracic splenosis. Indeed, the previous medical history of the patient revealed a left thoraco-abdominal traumatism during childhood. The aim of this paper is to emphasize that the diagnosis can now be performed using only imaging techniques such as technetium-99 sulfur colloid or labelled heat-denatured red blood cell scintigraphy to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures including thoracotomy.

Splenosis of the Mesoappendix with Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Splenosis is a benign condition involving the auto-transplantation of splenic tissue at various locations, resulting from splenic injury or splenectomy. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old male, with a history of remote exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy secondary to blunt abdominal trauma, presented with symptoms consistent with acute appendicitis, which was subsequently confirmed by computed tomography scan of the abdomen that further demonstrated the presence of multiple abdominal nodules, one of which was adjacent to the appendix. A laparoscopic appendectomy was then performed along with resection of the nodule located in the mesoappendix, which was confirmed to be a splenic tissue based on histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS Abdominal splenosis is not an uncommon condition in patients with a history of splenic injury. However, the involvement of the mesoappendix, which may or may not contribute to acute inflammation of the appendix, is very rare.

Incidental finding of abdominal splenosis with mononucleated cell infiltration leading to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

Splenosis refers to ectopic splenic implants that are often found incidentally years after splenic rupture/splenectomy, and the nodules of splenosis are usually small, less than 3 cm for the majority. We report a case of splenosis with a 5-centimeter large mass in the anterior abdomen in a 79 year-old male with a remote history of splenic rupture/splenectomy. Unexpectedly, needle core biopsy of the abdominal mass demonstrated splenic tissue with a mononucleated cell infiltrate blurring the splenic architecture that was highlighted only by CD8 stain. This finding prompted a bone marrow examination resulting in the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in the patient. Retrospectively, enlargement of this ectopic spleen may have been caused by this leukemic infiltrate. This case underscores the importance of being aware of this rare pathological condition and its retained vulnerability for involvement by hematolymphoid neoplasms, as well as significance of identifying splenic architecture highlighted by CD8 stain to reach a correct diagnosis.

Follicular lymphoma in a patient with splenosis: a case report

Splenosis refers to the seeding of splenic cells associated with surgery or trauma. Splenosis mimicking other diseases has been reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of follicular lymphoma in a patient with splenosis whose diagnosis of lymphoma was delayed because of a known history of splenosis. We report a 48-year-old male patient who underwent splenectomy because of injury from a high fall 20 years previously. He had no symptoms other than mild abdominal pain until 2 years previously, which was thought to be associated with splenosis. When his symptoms began to increase, he had explorative laparotomy for diagnosis, which was later confirmed as follicular lymphoma. Splenosis may delay the diagnosis of other conditions that can be underestimated. Clinicians should be aware of unusual symptoms in patients with splenosis.

Symptomatic Intrathoracic Splenosis More than Forty Years After a Gunshot Injury

Thoracic splenosis is a rare heterotopic autotransplantation of the spleen into the thorax that occurs after trauma or surgery involving the spleen. It is most commonly found incidentally on imaging in the left hemithorax. To the best of our knowledge, only six symptomatic cases of thoracic splenosis have been described in the literature so far. We present a case of thoracic splenosis in a male with a remote history of a gunshot injury during childhood, who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath.

Splenic autotransplantation: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Splenectomy is a surgical procedure indicated in a variety of medical conditions including trauma. Post-operatively, there is a lifelong risk of developing overwhelming sepsis from encapsulated bacteria, most commonly due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Splenic autotransplantation has been proposed as a method to recover splenic function in patients requiring splenectomy with otherwise normal spleens. This study aims to systematically review the literature to determine the efficacy of spleen autotransplantation.

METHODS

MEDLINE, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched for all studies assessing splenic autotransplantation (January 1947 to July 2018). Data were extracted on study characteristics, outcomes assessed, including spleen scintigraphy results, blood film counts and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 18 primary studies. All studies demonstrated return of regenerated spleen tissue in the majority of their patients (95.3%) on spleen scintigraphy. In 12 studies, 90.2% of patients had blood films return to normal following transplantation. Ig levels were shown to return to normal in all 12 studies where it was assessed. In 11 studies, 3.7% of patients had post-operative complications. In five studies, 1.3% of patients had post-operative infections in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Splenic autotransplantation is a safe procedure with minimal complications that can return splenic filtration function and Ig levels to normal ranges. It has not been confirmed whether autotransplantation provides meaningful protection against overwhelming post-splenectomy infections.

Splenosis: a great mimicker of neoplastic disease

Splenosis is a benign condition that can occur after splenic trauma or after surgery involving the spleen. These splenic implants are most often seen within the abdominal and pelvic cavities. On imaging, splenosis can be confused with multiple additional entities including metastatic disease, peritoneal carcinomatosis, peritoneal mesothelioma, abdominal lymphoma, renal cancer, hepatic adenomas, or endometriosis depending on its distribution. In all patients with history of splenic surgery or trauma, splenosis should be on the differential diagnosis of soft tissue nodules in the abdomen and pelvis, especially in the absence of systemic symptoms, to avoid unnecessary biopsy, chemotherapy, or surgery.

Micronucleated Erythrocytes in Peripheral Blood from Neonate Rats Exposed by Breastfeeding to Cyclophosphamide, Colchicine, or Cytosine-Arabinoside

Genotoxic exposure to chemical substances is common, and nursing mothers could transmit harmful substances or their metabolites to their offspring through breast milk. We explored the possibility of determining genotoxic effects in the erythrocytes of breastfeeding rat pups whose mothers received a genotoxic compound while nursing. Ten groups of female rats and five pups per dam were studied. The control group received sterile water, and the experimental groups received one of three different doses of cyclophosphamide, colchicine, or cytosine-arabinoside. Blood smears were prepared from samples taken from each dam and pup every 24 h for six days. There were increased numbers of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNEs) and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) in the samples from pups in the experimental groups (P < 0.02) and increased MNPCE frequencies in the samples from the dams (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate the vertical transmission of the genotoxic effect of the compounds tested. In conclusion, assessing MNEs in breastfeeding neonate rats to assess DNA damage may be a useful approach for identifying genotoxic compounds and/or cytotoxic effects. This strategy could help in screening for therapeutic approaches that are genotoxic during the lactation stage and these assessments might also be helpful for developing preventive strategies to counteract harmful effects.

Intrathoracic splenosis - lesson learned: a case report

BACKGROUND

Intrathoracic splenosis presents an extremely rare thoracic lesion occurring after a simultaneous rupture of the spleen and diaphragm as a consequence of heterotopic autotransplantation and implantation of splenic tissue. Intrathoracic splenosis is usually an asymptomatic, incidental finding, which should be ideally managed without surgical intervention.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of 68-year old woman with intrathoracic splenosis. Patient presented with a 2-month history of a dry cough unresponsive to administered antibiotics and antimycotics. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed two homogeneous pleural nodules (diameters of 2 and 4 cm) in the left upper lung field. Two consequent CT-assisted transthoracic core-cut biopsies were performed. Histopathology examination of both biopsy specimens was inconclusive (haemorrhagic and non-specific tissue). After that, patient was referred to the department of thoracic surgery with a suspicion of malignant mesothelioma or metastatic lesions. Thoracoscopic revision of the left pleural cavity was performed and the presence of pleural nodules was confirmed. Bloody looking nodules were resected (standard thoracoscopic resection). Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The histopathology examination of the specimen showed normal splenic tissue. Only with the histopathology report in hand, a detailed medical history was taken. It revealed a gunshot injury requiring splenectomy (without known diaphragm or lung injury) 44 years ago (one of the longest time periods in the literature).

CONCLUSIONS

We would like to point out that following the recommendations regarding splenosis may be very difficult in daily routine practice. The simple question regarding abdominal trauma in a patient's history can lead the clinician to the diagnosis of splenosis, which can be unequivocally established via scintigraphy. The importance of thorough medical history taking, therefore, cannot be underestimated.

Low immunoglobulin M memory B-cell percentage in patients with heterotaxy syndrome correlates with the risk of severe bacterial infection

BACKGROUND

Patients with heterotaxy syndrome, commonly associated with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), exhibit a higher risk of severe bacterial infection (SBI). We sought to define the change of a novel immunologic marker, the immunoglobulin M (IgM) memory B-cell percentage, and its association with SBI.

METHODS

We enrolled 46 (M/F 29/17) heterotaxy syndrome patients (42 right atrial isomerism (RAI) and 4 left atrial isomerism (LAI)) aged > 1 y during the period 2010-2012 in a tertiary care center. We analyzed IgM(+)CD27(+) memory B-cell percentages. Patients with simple and complex CHD served as controls.

RESULTS

The mean IgM memory B-cell percentages were the lowest in the heterotaxy syndrome group, compared with those in complex and simple CHD groups (1.8 ± 2.1 vs. 3.9 ± 3.2 vs. 5.1 ± 4.7, P < 0.001). In the heterotaxy syndrome group, 41.3% had low IgM memory B-cell percentages (<1% of B cells). Seven had a history of community-acquired SBI and 85.7% of these had low IgM memory B-cell percentages, which was the only significant factors related to community-acquired SBI (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

The memory B cell and IgM memory B-cell percentages are low in patients with heterotaxy syndrome, and the presence of IgM memory B-cell percentage < 1% correlates with community-acquired SBI.

Splenosis: A Rare Etiology for Bowel Obstruction-A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Splenosis is a historically uncommon etiology for bowel obstruction. Autotransplanted splenic tissues following surgery or trauma of the spleen are known to occur in multiple locations of the abdominal cavity and pelvis. The small bowel mesentery is a blood vessel-rich environment for growth of splenic fragments. We present a case of a 36-year-old male patient who sustained a gunshot wound to his left abdomen requiring a splenectomy and bowel resection fifteen years prior to his presentation with small bowel obstruction requiring exploration, adhesiolysis, and resection of the mesenteric splenic deposit. Our aim in this report is to provide awareness of splenosis as an etiology for bowel obstruction, especially with increased incidence and survival following abdominal traumas requiring splenectomies. We also stress on the importance of history and physical examination to include splenosis on the list of differential diagnoses for bowel obstruction.

Splenic Arterial Embolization in the Treatment of Severe Portal Hypertension Due to Pancreatic Diseases: The Primary Experience in 14 Patients

Objective

This retrospective study reports our experience using splenic arterial particle embolization and coil embolization for the treatment of sinistral portal hypertension (SPH) in patients with and without gastric bleeding.

Methods

From August 2009 to May 2012, 14 patients with SPH due to pancreatic disease were diagnosed and treated with splenic arterial embolization. Two different embolization strategies were applied; either combined distal splenic bed particle embolization and proximal splenic artery coil embolization in the same procedure for acute hemorrhage (1-step) or interval staged distal embolization and proximal embolization in the stable patient (2-step). The patients were clinically followed.

Results

In 14 patients, splenic arterial embolization was successful. The one-step method was performed in three patients suffering from massive gastric bleeding, and the bleeding was relieved after embolization. The two-step method was used in 11 patients, who had chronic gastric variceal bleeding or gastric varices only. The gastric varices disappeared in the enhanced CT scan and the patients had no gastric bleeding during follow-up.

Conclusions

Splenic arterial embolization, particularly the two-step method, proved feasible and effective for the treatment of SPH patients with gastric varices or gastric variceal bleeding.

Silent pelvic splenosis: Case report

INTRODUCTION

Splenosis is a benign, usually asymptomatic, condition involving autotransplantation of splenic tissue that occurs frequently after splenic rupture caused by trauma or surgery [1]. Up to 67% of the patients presenting splenic rupture may develop splenosis [2]. The interval of time between the initial trauma and the diagnosis varies from 3 to 45 years with an average interval of 21 years [3]. Since the finding of this entity is usually accidental, the real incidence is not well known. Although splenosis following traumatic splenectomy after traffic accidents is well-documented in the literature, there do not seem to be many reported cases where splenosis produced gynecological complications [4]. There were fewer than 100 cases of splenosis reported since the first report of Buchbinder and Lipkoff in 1939 [5] in the English language medical literature of which only a minority appeared in the gynecological literature.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A case of pelvic and omentum majus splenosis in a patient is presented.

DISCUSSION

Pelvic splenosis remains a rare finding in clinical practice. In most reported cases in the literature, the diagnosis was not considered before surgery. This approach may obviate the need for invasive evaluation for a primary or secondary neoplasm, and thus unnecessary surgery, and therefore preserve probable functional splenic tissue. Our case was diagnosed using non-surgical modalities.

CONCLUSION

Our case emphasizes the rare diagnosing of pelvic splenosis in the evaluating pelvic mass with the tissue evidence instead of surgery.

A rare benign intrathoracic mass in a patient with history of rocket explosion

Thoracic splenosis is rare benign condition that follows trauma leading to diaphragmatic injury. Most of the patients including ours present with a clear traumatic event leading to autotransplantation of spleen in thoracic cavity. Mostly diagnosed incidentally and we need to avoid unnecessary workup including radiological and invasive. It is a very important case which signifies importance of good history taking and initial imaging for making diagnosis and making our pulmonogist and internist aware of this diagnosis.

Splenosis mimicking an extramural duodenal mass: A case report

Splenosis is a common disease, patients with splenosis are generally asymptomatic and therapy is not indicated. Splenosis is frequently observed in the abdomen and pelvic cavity and may mimic malignancy on imaging, often leading to unnecessary surgical intervention. The current study presents the case of a 55-year-old female patient, with a rare case of duodenal splenosis, who underwent unnecessary laparotomy due to a misdiagnosis of a malignant duodenal stromal tumor. Although splenosis was confirmed by intraoperative tissue biopsy, this mass was resected due to the lack of information with regard to this condition, an increased suspicion of progressive growth of the mass and chronic duodenal compression. The aim of this report is to raise the awareness of this entity in patients post-splenectomy, to avoid unnecessary surgery, particularly with an increased prevalence of patients with previous splenic trauma due to road traffic accidents. Therefore, the possibility of abdominal splenosis must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with abdominal mass as the main clinical manifestation, where there is a history of splenic trauma or splenectomy and no other systemic symptoms. In the future noninvasive nuclear scintigraphy may serve as a suitable diagnostic approach for splenosis, thereby avoiding unnecessary laparotomies.

Intrathoracic splenosis presenting as persistent chest pain

Thoracic splenosis is a rare entity resulting from splenic and diaphragmatic injury. Patients remain asymptomatic, and surgical intervention is not indicated in the majority of cases. We report a case of a 50-year-old male with a history of splenectomy due to a gunshot wound 30 years previously who presented with vague, progressively worsening chest pain. He was found to have a large intrathoracic splenosis. Unique features of our patient include the presence of symptoms, the significant interval growth of the splenic tissue, and the unprecedented size of the mass, which we believe to be the largest among those previously described.

Contemporary pediatric splenectomy: continuing controversies

PURPOSE

We undertook the current study to update the literature on pediatric splenectomy in the age of minimally invasive proficiency among pediatric surgeons. The study is designed to address specific concerns among surgeons about the suitability of the laparoscopic approach in specific situations and among hematologists about the relative benefits and risks of splenectomy in children.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of clinicopathologic data for 118 children who underwent open (OS) or laparoscopic (LS) splenectomy at an urban tertiary children's hospital from January 2000 to July 2008.

RESULTS

One hundred and three cases (87%) were started as LS. Operative times were equivalent for LS and OS (P = 0.8). In the LS group, there were four conversions (3.9%) from LS to OS and five early post-operative complications (4.9%). Median length of stay was 2 days for LS and 4 days for both OS and LS converted to OS (P < 0.0001). The ten largest spleens removed by LS had greater mass (P = 0.02) and tended to have greater volume (P = 0.1) than those removed by OS. Children with hereditary spherocytosis, ITP, and hemoglobinopathy had favorable clinical outcomes, regardless of operative approach. There were no cases of overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis in this series.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic splenectomy is the preferred approach for splenectomy in children with hematological diseases, with or without splenomegaly. Compared to open splenectomy, laparoscopic splenectomy has equivalent operative time and improved length of stay. Both approaches have excellent therapeutic outcomes for appropriate indications.

A new technique for spleen autotransplantation

PURPOSE

Although the efficacy of spleen autotransplantation is debated, this approach remains the only possibility for preserving splenic function after traumatic splenectomy. This report describes an alternative method for splenic autotransplantation in case of splenic trauma.

METHODS

After splenectomy, the organ was weighed and the undamaged part was cut transversely to prepare a segment of approximately 4 × 3 × 2 cm in size and of 35 g of weight to be transplanted. The greater omentum was pedunculated in its left lateral portion, and the previously prepared splenic tissue was implanted in a pouch created at the lower edge of the omentum. The omental peduncle containing the splenic tissue was fixed to the parietal peritoneum of posterior left upper quadrant of the abdomen where the native spleen was previously located.

RESULTS

This technique was performed in 4 patients after informed consent had been obtained. The functionality of the splenic implant was assessed after 3 months by abdominal computed tomography and scintigraphy. These exams showed the functioning of the trasplanted splenic tissue in all patients.

CONCLUSION

This new technique needs further evaluation, but it appears to be an easy and safe alternative for spleen autotransplantation.

Post-splenectomy and hyposplenic states

The spleen is crucial in regulating immune homoeostasis through its ability to link innate and adaptive immunity and in protecting against infections. The impairment of splenic function is defined as hyposplenism, an acquired disorder caused by several haematological and immunological diseases. The term asplenia refers to the absence of the spleen, a condition that is rarely congenital and mostly post-surgical. Although hyposplenism and asplenia might predispose individuals to thromboembolic events, in this Review we focus on infectious complications, which are the most widely recognised consequences of these states. Because of the high mortality, the fulminant course, and the refractoriness to common treatment of overwhelming infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, prevention through vaccination and antibiotic prophylaxis is the basis of the management of patients who have had splenectomy or have hyposplenism. In this Review, we critically assess clinical and diagnostic aspects of splenic dysfunction and highlight new perspectives in the prevention of overwhelming post-splenectomy infections.

Thoracic splenosis: know it--avoid unnecessary investigations, interventions, and thoracotomy

Thoracic splenosis (TS) is autoimplantation of ectopic splenic tissue in the thoracic cavity that occurs following splenic injury. Most cases of TS are asymptomatic and are diagnosed during the course of an evaluation of incidentally discovered pulmonary lesions. Some cases may be difficult to diagnose, especially if features suggesting TS are not recognized. This may lead to an extensive workup and unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures including thoracotomy. Multiple, asymptomatic, left-sided pleura-based lesions associated with a history of thoracoabdominal injury and splenectomy are the key points that should alert one to suspect TS, which can then simply be confirmed with a (99m)Tcsulfa colloid radionuclide scan. If TS is suspected and radionuclide imaging studies are performed, further extensive investigations, such as bronchoscopy, biopsy, thoracoscopy, and thoracotomy, are not required as the radionuclide scan is definitive for diagnosis. Most cases are asymptomatic, so further treatment is rarely required; all cases are managed conservatively. We emphasize that all physicians, radiologists, pathologists, and interventionalists should recognize key features that suggest the diagnosis of TS, order appropriate imaging when it is suspected, and avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures including thoracotomy.

The (re)generation of splenic tissue

A 48-year-old man with a history of a traumatic splenic rupture followed by splenectomy at the age of 5 years was referred to the outpatient clinic with markedly elevated liver enzymes. He was diagnosed with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Ultrasound of the upper abdomen revealed hepatomegaly and suggested a central mass in the liver. Subsequent MRI of the abdomen did not show a hepatic mass, but revealed multiple intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal ovoid structures with a maximum diameter of 3 cm. A peripheral blood smear did not reveal Howell-Jolly bodies suggesting intact splenic function. The diagnosis splenosis-that is, autotransplantation of splenic tissue after iatrogenic/traumatic rupture of the spleen-was considered and confirmed by SPECT-CT with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) labelled heat-denatured autologous red blood cells.

Pararenal splenosis encountered during the evaluation of a suspected pheochromocytoma

The authors describe a patient in whom pararenal splenosis nodules were initially interpreted as probable pheochromocytoma. A 22-year-old man with chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertension and a childhood history of splenectomy was hospitalized for a hypertensive emergency. He did not improve with aggressive antihypertensive therapy. A pheochromocytoma was suspected, and a renal ultrasound and a magnetic resonance imaging showed 2 left pararenal masses. Laboratory evaluation for pheochromocytoma and aldosteronoma were negative. Biopsies of the masses were planned, but the masses were subsequently shown to be splenic tissue by a (99m)technnetium heat-damaged red blood cell scan. Ectopic splenic masses, eg, splenosis or accessory spleens, should be considered in patients with undiagnosed abdominal or kidney masses and a history of splenectomy.

Thoracic splenosis: a case report and the importance of clinical history

We present a case of thoracic splenosis in a 42-yr-old man with a medical history of abdominal surgery for a penetration injury with an iron bar of the left abdomen and back. He had been in good condition, but a chest radiograph taken during a regular checkup showed a multinodular left pleura-based mass. Computed tomography (CT) showed that the mass was well-enhanced and homogeneous, indicating a sclerosing hemangioma. Following its removal by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the mass appeared similar to a hemangioma, with marked adhesion to the left side diaphragmatic pleura and lung parenchyma. Frozen section showed that the lesion was a solid mass consisted with abundant lymphoid cells, suggesting a low grade lymphoma. On permanent section, however, the mass was found to be composed of white pulp, red pulp, a thick capsule and trabeculae and was diagnosed as ectopic splenic tissue, or thoracic splenosis. Review of the patient's history and chest CT at admission revealed that the patient had undergone a splenectomy for the penetration injury 20 yr previously.

Thoracic splenosis: A diagnosis by history and imaging

Thoracic splenosis (TS) is autoimplantation of ectopic splenic tissue in the thoracic cavity that occurs following splenic injury. The majority of cases of TS are asymptomatic and are diagnosed in the course of an evaluation of incidentally discovered pulmonary lesions. Some cases may be difficult to diagnose, especially if features suggesting TS are not recognized. This may lead to an extensive work-up and unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures including thoracotomy. This case report describes a 40-year-old man, who was diagnosed incidentally with TS, several years after the initial injury. Multiple, asymptomatic, left-sided pleural based lesions associated with a history of thoracoabdominal injury and splenectomy are the key points that should alert suspicion of TS, which can then simply be confirmed by a Tc-99m sulphur colloid radionuclide scan. Most patients are treated conservatively unless they are symptomatic. Physicians must recognize the key features suggesting a diagnosis of TS, order appropriate imaging studies and avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.

Howell-Jolly body counting as a measure of splenic function. A reassessment

Non-surgical and surgical asplenia predisposes to fatal infections; therefore, simple, non-invasive and repeatable tests for assessing splenic function are required, even in non-specialized medical institutions. Howell-Jolly bodies are the most characteristic peripheral blood abnormality after splenectomy, but their counting is not considered a reliable measure of splenic function. In this study, in a group of splenectomized subjects and of patients with non-surgical hyposplenism, we have compared counting of Howell-Jolly bodies, stained by both the May-Grünwald/Giemsa method and the Feulgen reaction, with pitted cell counting which is considered a reliable technique for the assessment of splenic hypofunction. A significant correlation has been found between Howell-Jolly body counts, stained by either technique, and pitted cell counts (P less than 0.0001). Through Howell-Jolly bodies were never detectable when pitted cell counts fell between 4 and 8%, values consistent with a very mild splenic hypofunction, for pitted cell counts above 8% their increase was always associated with increasing Howell-Jolly body counts. These data suggest that, although pitted cell counting represents a more sensitive method for evaluating splenic function, Howell-Jolly body counting may still be regarded as a simple and reliable technique for identifying and monitoring those cases associated with a real risk of overwhelming infections.

Detection and functional assessment of accessory splenic tissue (splenunculi) with radiolabelled heat damaged autologous erythrocytes

Eight patients (six with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, one with immune pancytopenia, and one with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia), who had previously been splenectomized, were found to have splenunculi using radioactively labelled heat damaged autologous erythrocytes. In all patients the splenunculi were found to have significant 'splenic function'. However, there was a poor correlation between the size and the function of the splenunculi. Splenunculectomies were carried out in two patients. This led to a complete haematological remission in one patient and partial remission in the other. In three patients, where splenunculectomies could not be undertaken, the patients had to remain on significant doses of immunosuppressive therapy. In one patient complete remission was achieved using a course of immunosuppressive therapy alone and in the remaining two there was insufficient information to draw valid conclusions. Blood clearance kinetic studies of heat damaged erythrocytes were found to provide an accurate functional assessment of the splenunculi in all patients. However, the presence of a functional splenunculus was found to be the cause of disease relapse in only some patients. Therefore, the management of similar patients should perhaps be along the same lines as that at their initial presentation, that is, immunosuppressive therapy should be tried if they are not on any at the time of relapse, if they are already on it, then splenunculectomy should be done.

Complications of splenectomy

Surgical removal of the spleen, splenectomy, is a procedure that has significantly decreased in frequency as our understanding of the infectious complications of the asplenic state increased. The full spectrum and details of splenic function, however, have yet to be fully outlined. As a result, our comprehension of the long-term consequences of splenectomy remains incomplete. We review the evidence relating to the effects of splenectomy on infection, malignancy, thrombosis, and transplantation. Perhaps the best-defined and most widely understood complication of splenectomy is the asplenic patient's susceptibility to infection. In response to this concern, novel techniques have emerged to attempt to preserve splenic function in those patients for whom surgical therapy of the spleen is necessary. The efficacy of these techniques in preserving splenic function and staving off the complications associated with splenectomy is also reviewed in this article.

Immunocompetence of the severely injured spleen verified by differential interference contrast microscopy: the red blood cell pit test

OBJECTIVE

To determine the immunocompetence of the successfully nonoperatively managed injured spleen warranting vaccinations for overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis by differential interference contrast microscopy (DICM).

METHODS

Cull an urban Level I trauma systems data bank for all patients with grade IV or V splenic injuries (those with the greatest potential to compromise immunologic function) successfully managed nonoperatively and those who have required splenectomies since 1996 and verify the Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading. Contact or obtain written consent of these patients and acquire a blood sample for DICM (red blood cell [RBC] pit analysis) and IgM levels (as a control). Compare values of those sustaining splenic injuries with those of two control groups: patients with splenectomies and those with normal splenic function.

RESULTS

Forty patients were contacted, consented, and volunteered blood samples: 10 patients with grade IV splenic injuries, 1 patient with a grade V injury, 14 patients with splenectomies, and 15 controls. Average RBC pit levels and IgM levels for patients sustaining injuries (15) and successfully nonoperatively managed were 0.6% (0%-2% nL) and 91 mg/dL (46-304 nL), respectively. Patients with splenectomies had levels of 20.4% and 86 mg/dL whereas controls had levels of 0.7% and 110 mg/dL, respectively. The average time frame from injury to RBC pit test was 3.1 years. Comparing the successfully nonoperatively managed group with the splenectomy group using t test with Satterthwaite's method because of unequal variances, there was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0002). Comparing the same study group with those with normal splenic function using t test with pooled variance, there was no statistical significant difference between groups (p = 0.489).

CONCLUSION

DICM, a commonly used test to evaluate splenic-based immunocompetence in patients with sickle cell anemia, hemoglobinopathies, and patients undergoing partial splenectomies, also confirms splenic immunocompetence in patients sustaining up to grade IV splenic injuries. IgM levels earlier thought to be low in patients after splenectomy normalize.

Splenosis: a review

Splenosis is a common benign condition that occurs after splenic rupture via trauma or surgery. Splenosis is usually found incidentally and unless symptomatic, therapy is not indicated. However, since radiographically it can mimic malignancy, most patients have an extensive workup. The diagnostic method of choice is nuclear scintigraphy, specifically, a heat-damaged red blood cell scan. Splenosis usually occurs within the abdominal and pelvic cavities, but patients have been described with intrathoracic, subcutaneous, intrahepatic and intracranial lesions.

Hematologic manifestations of celiac disease

Celiac disease is a common systemic disorder that can have multiple hematologic manifestations. Patients with celiac disease may present to hematologists for evaluation of various hematologic problems prior to receiving a diagnosis of celiac disease. Anemia secondary to malabsorption of iron, folic acid, and/or vitamin B12 is a common complication of celiac disease and many patients have anemia at the time of diagnosis. Celiac disease may also be associated with thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, venous thromboembolism, hyposplenism, and IgA deficiency. Patients with celiac disease are at increased risk of being diagnosed with lymphoma, especially of the T-cell type. The risk is highest for enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETL) and B-cell lymphoma of the gut, but extraintestinal lymphomas can also be seen. ETL is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis, but strict adherence to a gluten-free diet may prevent its occurrence.