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The Spleen

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Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Abstract

The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ of the human body. A healthy spleen has the function to keep the concentration of blood cells in balance. Spleen disorders can cause a clotting disturbance as seen in general bleeding diathesis with haemorrhage following minor traumas or prolonged bleeding, e.g., following small surgical invasion.

While diseases of primary splenic origin are rare, congenital anomalies, injuries, and systematic diseases can lead to diffuse or focal abnormalities. Various factors can cause enlargement of the spleen, such as an immunodeficiency or infection, particularly oncologic, disease. Patients with pronounced spleen enlargement suffer pain or pressure in the left upper abdomen that can spread to the shoulder.

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© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Rummeny, E.J., Eiber, M. (2016). The Spleen. In: Vogl, T., Reith, W., Rummeny, E. (eds) Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44037-7_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44037-7_27

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44036-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44037-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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