Accessory spleens are congenital and form as a result of failure of fusion of multiple buds of splenic tissue in the dorsal mesogastrium in the fifth week of embryonic life. They have their own blood supply, which is usually from a branch of the splenic artery.
How many accessory spleens can a person have?
Accessory spleens are found in approximately 10 percent of the population and are typically around 1 centimetre in diameter. They may resemble a lymph node or a small spleen. … Causes and locations.
| Accessory spleen | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| TA98 | A13.2.01.022 |
| TA2 | 5177 |
| FMA | 16028 |
Can a tumor be mistaken for accessory spleen?
Accessory spleen is a congenital anomaly, almost locate in the splenic hilum (75%) and the pancreatic tail (20%) (3), the others may locate in omentum, small intestine, mesentery and testis. They are often mimicked pancreatic or gastrointestinal tumors, adrenal masses, and even testicular tumors (4).
Do accessory spleens grow?
Unlike some other organs, like the liver, the spleen does not grow back (regenerate) after it is removed. Up to 30% of people have a second spleen (called an accessory spleen). These are usually very small, but may grow and function when the main spleen is removed.
Is an accessory spleen harmful?
Multiple (accessory) spleens do not cause medical problems, and nothing is done about them. Rarely, accessory spleens may be confused with tumors. They usually can be definitely identified by radionuclide liver-spleen scans.
What does accessory spleen mean?
An accessory spleen, also called a supernumerary spleen, a splenule, or a splenunculus, is a benign and asymptomatic condition in which splenic tissue is found outside the normal spleen. Accessory spleens are a relatively common phenomenon with an estimated 10% to 30% of the population having one.
Does an accessory spleen function?
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 organ takes over after spleen removal?
Living without a spleen. If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs, such as the liver, can take over many of the spleen’s functions. This means you’ll still be able to cope with most infections. But there’s a small risk that a serious infection may develop quickly.
Does a splenectomy affect 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.
Where can accessory spleen be found?
Accessory spleens are often located on the left side of the human body. Nearly all the lesions are smaller than 2 cm, and 65% of them are 1 cm in diameter or less. They can be located in the hilum of the spleen, splenic artery, pancreas, splenocolic ligament, greater omentum, mesenterium, adnexal region, and scrotum.
Is a Splenule bad?
An enlarged spleen is not normal and occurs because of another underlying disease. Signs of an enlarged spleen do not cause symptoms and usually are caused by an underlying illness, for example: Infections (mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, endocarditis). Cancers, for example, lymphoma and leukemia.
Is Splenule normal?
Splenules, or accessory spleens, are congenital foci of normal splenic tissue that are separate from the main body of the spleen. They are not uncommon, and are often incidentally found on CT scans and other abdominal imaging studies.
Is someone without a spleen immunocompromised?
Someone without a spleen is at increased risk of severe, or even deadly, infections from these encapsulated bacteria. Fortunately, vaccines significantly decrease the risk of these infections, and are available against the most common types (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Neisseria meningitidis).
What happens to red blood cells after splenectomy?
However, after a splenectomy the lack of presence of the spleen means this function cannot be carried out so damaged erythrocytes will continue to circulate in the blood and can release substances into the blood.
Can ITP come back after splenectomy?
Therefore ITP is the most common indication for elective splenectomy, unfortunately, even when surgery successfully achieves platelets count remission, there is not guarantee that the disease will not recur. A review of the literature shows ITP recurrence following splenectomy ranging between 18% to 38% (17-9).
Does the spleen grow back?
Spleen can regenerate through various mechanisms. Autotransplantation of splenic tissue after traumatic disruption of the splenic capsule is well recognized. Splenic tissue can lodge anywhere in the peritoneal cavity following traumatic disruption and regenerates under favourable conditions.
Where are accessory spleens not found?
Accessory spleens are most commonly located medial to the splenic hilum, adjacent to or within the pancreatic tail or below the spleen (in the splenorenal ligament). Rarely they may be located elsewhere in the abdomen.
What does it mean when you have two spleens?
Polysplenia, or multiple spleens, is due to the absence of fusion of the primordial germs of the spleen. Therefore, between 1 and 6 small spleens are present in the abdominal cavity with dimensions between 1 cm and 6 cm; however, the total volume does not exceed the volume of a normal spleen [9].
Is splenectomy a disability?
Under Diagnostic Code 7706, a splenectomy warrants a 20 percent disability rating. This diagnostic code also provides the instruction to rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria separately.
Can you get a spleen transplant?
Spleen transplantation is the transfer of spleen or spleen fragments from one individual to another. It is under research for induction of immunological tolerance for other transplanted organs. Success has been achieved in rodent models.
Does a splenectomy compromise your immune system?
Undergoing a spleen removal leaves you with a compromised, or weakened, immune system. Since infections can be more dangerous without a spleen, you may need yearly vaccines and prophylactic antibiotics. Prophylactic antibiotics are used to prevent a bacterial infection from occurring.
What is the most common complication of splenectomy?
Infections, particularly pulmonary and abdominal sepsis, constitute the majority of the complications. The mortality rate from postoperative sepsis is substantial. Atelectasis, pancreatitis/fistula, pulmonary embolism and bleeding at the operative site are also relatively common occurrences following splenic removal.
Can you drink alcohol after a splenectomy?
Do not drive or drink alcohol for 24 hours after your surgery.
What are the long term effects of having your spleen removed?
Long-term risk of infection After spleen removal, you’re more likely to contract serious or life-threatening infections. Your doctor may recommend that you receive vaccines against pneumonia, influenza, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningococci.
Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.