Abstract: |
A 6‐year‐old male Rhodesian Ridgeback dog developed splenosis following splenectomy for a rupture of the spleen. The dog did well for 4 years following splenectomy but then developed progressive hepatomegaly, leading to the death of the animal. Grossly the abdomen was filled with masses of tissue arising from the liver. Multiple nodules of various sizes were seen in the remainder of the liver and attached to the mesentery, diaphragm and peritoneal wall. Histologically, the lesions contained splenic tissue consisting of both red and white pulp, and were characterized by all the normal cell elements of the spleen, including erythropoietic tissue. The proportion of red to white pulp was, however, abnormal, and the fibromuscular septae and sheath arteries were not obvious. In the smaller lesions, and in the margins of the large lesions, splenic tissue replaced the hepatic tissue except for the bile ducts. The multiple, intrahepatic nodules indicated splenic vein embolism. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved |