title: History of splenectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The spleen has been considered for millennia a fascinating and mysterious organ with multiple functions. The spleen has long been an organ of interest in popular as well as medical literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature (Pubmed) and historical review about splenectomy has been performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The importance of spleen and the related surgical procedure of splenectomy has been an important topic of scientific interest since the Ancient Greece culture to more modern times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spleen and splenectomy have important roles in the medical literature and popular tradition. Nowadays laparoscopic splenectomy is increasingly popular and for certain indications it is considered the gold standard therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Human Morphology, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Human Morphology, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Human Morphology, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rausei
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Human Morphology, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovera
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Human Morphology, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianlorenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionigi
mesh_terms: D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D013154:Spleen / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000266:history*
keywords: History of splenectomy; Spleen; Splenectomy