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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Published on: September 7, 2022
Spontaneously Ruptured Spleen Samples in Patients With Infectious Mononucleosis: Analysis of Histology and Lymphoid
Marcos M Siliézar1, Catuxa Celerio Muñoz1, Jon Danel Solano-Iturri2
1Pathology Service, Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.
Objectives:
Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is occasionally seen as the presenting event in infectious mononucleosis (IM). Diagnosis of these cases can be very challenging.
Methods:
We describe the morphologic and immunohistochemical findings in a series of seven splenectomy specimens removed after spontaneous rupture in patients with IM. Most cases were submitted for a second opinion since the histology of the cases suggested malignant lymphoma.
Results:
All the cases showed similar findings, with red pulp expansion occupied by activated T and B cells, including scattered large lymphocytes with both T- and B-cell markers, together with a polymorphic background rich in cytotoxic T cells. Clonality analysis revealed T-cell receptor clonal patterns in four of the six cases evaluated.
Conclusions:
IM should be considered a possible diagnosis in any case of splenic rupture whose histology suggests possible aggressive lymphoma.
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