Recurrent hypersplenism caused by giant accessory spleen due to portal hypertension after splenectomia

Abstract

Splenectomy is one of the primary choices of treatment in immune thrombocytopenic purpura. However, the disease may relapse despite splenectomy. One of the leading causes of relapse is the presence of accessory spleen, which may become enlarged significantly with underlying pathologies such as presence of portal hypertension. The accessory spleen, which will inevitably enlarge in time, may grow significantly within a short period of time in the presence of portal hypertension and may thus be misdiagnosed as a tumoral mass. Presence of ectopic spleen should be borne in mind in patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura with relapsing hypersplenism following splenectomy. This article discusses a patient developing portal hypertension secondary to chronic liver disease and presenting with a significantly enlarged accessory spleen as well as hypersplenism findings.

• Accessory spleen
• portal hypertension
• hypersplenism
• immune thrombocytopenic purpura