Late modifications of residual parenchyma after splenic resections

The increased experience in the field of splenic resections have brought up questions about the evolution of the residual parenchyma. Weight increase and the histologic structure of the splenic remnant were studied during a year following hemisplenectomy in rats. Histological studies show that the residual spleen presents a permanent compensatory hyperplasia rather than a true regeneration. This hyperplasia causes an increase in weight of the residual parenchyma which is moderate and only transitory. Indirect confirmation of findings obtained in rats comes from scintigraphic study of residual human splenic tissue after hemisplenectomy. The residual tissue keeps its original form without increase in volume, and the sectioned surface is always well identified one year after splenic resection.