title: Splenectomy in patients with undiagnosed splenomegaly.
abstract: Of splenectomies performed in the Cork Regional Hospital over an 11 year period, ten were undertaken primarily for diagnostic purposes. A definitive histological diagnosis was established in nine patients, seven of whom had lymphoma, two with Hodgkin's disease and five with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The weight of the excised spleen in all patients with lymphoma exceeded 1 kg; in all those with a diagnosis other than lymphoma, the spleen weighed less than 1 kg. A majority of patients also had symptomatic improvement from reversal of hypersplenism and from relief of the mechanical pressure effects of an enlarged spleen. Operative mortality was zero. Diagnostic splenectomy is a worthwhile procedure. Most patients will have lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Whelton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hardiman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013156:Splenectomy; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*