Spleen - Atrophy



comment:
Atrophy can affect the white pulp and/or red pulp compartments of the spleen. Lymphocyte atrophy of the white pulp is characterized by a loss of lymphocytes in the T-cell areas (periarteriolar lymphatic sheaths [PALS]) and/or B-cell areas (follicles, germinal centers, marginal zones). Depending on severity, this can result in a decrease in overall PALS cellularity/area or follicle number/size ( Figure 1



recommendation:
Whenever present, atrophy of the spleen should be diagnosed and assigned a severity grade. A site modifier should be included in the diagnosis to indicate whether the red pulp or the white pulp is affected. If both compartments are involved, diagnose "Spleen - Atrophy." If splenic atrophy is present as a secondary lesion, as in the case of neoplasia, it need not be recorded but should be described in the pathology narrative.references:
Elmore SA. 2006. Enhanced histopathology of the spleen. Toxicol Pathol 34:648-655. Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1828535/
National Toxicology Program. 1992. 13-Week Short-Term Study of A3'-Azido-3'-Deoxythymidine (AZT) + Methadone Hydrochloride in B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies) Completed (C92014). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.
National Toxicology Program. 2002. NTP TR-507. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Vanadium Pentoxide (CAS No. 1314-62-1) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC. Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/14892
Stefanski SA, Elwell MR, Stromberg PC. 1990. Spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat: Reference and Atlas (Boorman GA, Eustis SL, Elwell MR, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, 369-394.
Suttie AW. 2006. Histopathology of the spleen. Toxicol Pathol 34:466-503. Full Text: http://tpx.sagepub.com/content/34/5/466.full.pdf
Ward JM, Mann PC, Morishima H, Frith CH. 1999. Thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. In: Pathology of the Mouse (Maronpot RR, ed). Cache River Press, Vienna, IL, 333-360.
Ward JM, Rehg JE, Morse HC III. 2012. Differentiation of rodent immune and hematopoietic system reactive lesions from neoplasias. Toxicol Pathol 40:425-434. Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22215512
Web page last updated on: January 27, 2015