Lymph nodes & spleen, nonlymphoma

Spleen-infectious / inflammatory disorders

Acute splenitis



Last author update: 1 October 2012
Last staff update: 29 September 2020

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PubMed Search: Acute splenitis

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Cite this page: Mansouri J. Acute splenitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/spleenacutesepticsplenitis.html. Accessed March 28th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Also called acute splenic tumor or septic spleen
  • Although traditionally associated with bacteremia, only known study shows no correlation (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2001;125:888)
Gross description
  • Splenic parenchyma may "flow" from cut surface
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Criteria are ill defined but traditionally are acute congestion of red pulp with numerous neutrophils in red and white pulp
  • Necrosis of follicles occurs with group A streptococcal infection
  • No capsular invasion by immunoblasts
Differential diagnosis
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