What does small Splenule mean?

What does small Splenule mean?

Splenules, or accessory spleens, are congenital foci of normal splenic tissue that are separate from the main body of the spleen. 1. They are not uncommon, and are often incidentally found on CT scans and other abdominal imaging studies.

What causes a Splenule?

Parasitic infections, such as malaria. Cirrhosis and other diseases affecting the liver. Various types of hemolytic anemia — a condition characterized by early destruction of red blood cells. Blood cancers, such as leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin’s disease.

Is a small spleen a problem?

Small Spleen Adults with small spleen usually have homozygous sickle cell disease which causes chronic splenic infarction. The spleen can be densely calcified and small on radiographs and CT (Figure 11).

What is a pancreatic Splenule?

Abstract. Splenules are congenital foci of healthy splenic tissue that are separate from the main body but are structurally identical to the spleen, derived from mesenchymal buds on the left side of the mesogastrium and commonly seen in or near the tail of the pancreas.

Can a Splenule be removed?

If your spleen needs to be removed, you’ll undergo a surgical procedure called a splenectomy. 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.

Can someone have two spleens?

Doctor’s response. Occasionally individuals are born with more than one spleen. In fact, the total amount of splenic tissue in these individuals is about the same as in an individual with a single spleen, but the tissue is separated into two (sometimes more) separate pieces.

What does a Splenule mean?

accessory spleen
Introduction. 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.

Can a Splenule cause pain?

Torsion of an accessory spleen is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Most cases occur in children, and in most cases the diagnosis is made at surgery. We report a case of torsion of an accessory spleen in an adult female who presented with acute left-flank pain.

What is Splenunculus?

Splenunculus, which is also called accessory spleen, refers to any of the small globular masses that are physiologically and histologically similar to the spleen. Splenunculi are found in 10% of the normal population. They are usually benign and asymptomatic.

How common is an accessory spleen?

Key words. Accessory spleens are found in approximately 10–30% of patients. Most patients are asymptomatic, with accessory tissue found incidentally or described on autopsy studies [1].

What does Hypersplenism mean?

Hypersplenism is an overactive spleen. The spleen is an organ found in the upper left side of your abdomen. The spleen helps filter old and damaged cells from your bloodstream. If your spleen is overactive, it removes the blood cells too early and too quickly.

How common is 2 spleens?

2. Discussion. Accessory spleen is a congenital anomaly characterized by ectopic splenic tissue separated from the main body of the spleen. This is found commonly, in 10–30% of autopsy studies, although patients are often asymptomatic and diagnosis is incidental to other abdominal pathology [1].

Can a splenule be removed?

Can an enlarged spleen go back to normal size?

What Is the Prognosis for Enlarged Spleen? Depending upon the cause, the enlarged spleen may return to normal size and function when the underlying disease is treated or resolved. Commonly, in infectious mononucleosis, the spleen returns to normal as the infection gets better.