Zeitschrift für Blutforschung und hämatologische Krankheiten

Accessory Spleen Only Detected Following Repeat Ultrasonographic Examinations: A Case Report

Sarici A, Erkurt MA, Kaya E, Kuku I, Slocum A and Kandemir MH

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune
disease characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia (<100,000/
µl). In patients newly diagnosed with ITP, treatment is initiated if
thrombocyte count is <30,000/µl or if bleeding is present.
Corticosteroids are the first treatment option. Second-line
treatment is initiated in unresponsive patients and/or in the
case of relapse ITP. Splenectomy, rituximab and
thrombopoietin receptor agonists are currently make up the most effective second-line treatments. One of the causes of
relapse after splenectomy in patients with ITP is the presence of an accessory spleen. Herein, we present a patient who
relapsed 3 months after splenectomy and whose accessory
spleen was detected 6 years post-splenectomy and at the third
abdominal ultrasonography (USG) examination. We aimed to
emphasize the importance of insisting on splenic investigation
in patients with ITP who have relapsed post-splenectomy