Objective:
We report here our results of pathological assessment of 659 splenectomy cases examined between 1996 and 2012. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological features, indications and the clinical features of the splenectomy specimens.
Material and Methods:
Clinicopathological features of totally 659 splenectomy specimens were retrospectively evaluated, in terms of age, sex, splenectomy indications; largest size, weight and histopathological diagnosis of the material.
Results:
The mean age was 40.71±17 and the ratio of male to female was 1.18. Splenectomy indications of the cases were trauma in 262, hemato-lenfoid diseases in 245, operation procedure in 76, infectious diseases in 40, and splenic mass in 36 of them. Histologically, in all of the trauma specimens, hematoma and congestion were seen. 75 of the operation procedure specimens exhibited congestion and 1 of them amyloid. In the infectious specimens, cyst hydatic was seen in 28, splenic abscess in 7, and granuloma in 3 of them.
Conclusion:
Spleen still lingers as useless and “vestigial” organ in the minds of surgeons and the pathologists despite its very vital immunological defense activities. Due to the increase in the advanced techniques, it is possible to avoid unnecessary surgery. Finally, the ratio of the splenectomy in general surgical pathology is decreasing gradually. Therefore, it was concluded that collection of data about the clinicopathological features of splenectomy specimens can contribute to the pathological and epidemiological studies to be done in the future.
Keywords: splenectomy, trauma, hematologic diseases, splenic mass