Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Positive stains | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Mansouri J. Amyloidosis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/spleenamyloidosis.html. Accessed October 4th, 2023.
Definition / general
- Usually secondary; rarely localized splenic nodules
- Even with diffuse involvement, spleen may still retain "pitting" function that prevents appearance of Howell-Jolly bodies in peripheral blood smears (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1995;119:252)
- Rarely can result in splenic rupture (Am J Hematol 2003;74:131)
Case reports
- 69 year old man with coexisting malignant GIST of stomach (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003;127:470)
- Amyloid tumor in lymphoma patient (Am J Surg Pathol 1987;11:723)
Gross description
- Firm and waxy consistency
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Deposition of pink amorphous material (amyloid) limited either to germinal follicles (sago spleen) or splenic sinusoids and surrounding connective tissue (lardaceous spleen)
Positive stains
- Congo red with characteristic birefringence (apple green)
Differential diagnosis
- Hyaline adventitial thickening of splenic vessels (normal, AIDS associated, Castleman disease)
