A Case of Laparoscopic Resection of the Accessory Spleen for the Recurrence of Hereditary Spherocytosis 17 Years after Splenectomy

Yo Kurashima, Kouichi Ohno, Ryunosuke Hase, Yoshinori Suzuki, Minoru Takada, Motoya Takeuchi, Setsuyuki Ohtake, Masaru Fujimori and Yoshiaki Sekishita

Department of Surgery, Obihiro Kosei General Hospital

Hereditary spherocytosis, which causes hemolytic anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly is often treated by splenectomy, and recurrence is rare due to the dispersion of the spleen or accessory spleen remnants. We report a case of laparoscopic resection of the accessory spleen for the recurrence of hereditary spherocytosis 17 years after splenectomy. A 21-year-old woman had underwent splenectomy and cholecystectomy for hereditary spherocytosis and cholelithiasis at the age of 4. She was seen for jaundice at the age of 21. Three-dimensional computed tomography showed an 8 cm tumor and spleen scintigraphy showed high accumulation in the pelvis. Based on a diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis recurrence due to a large accessory spleen in the pelvis, we conducted laparoscopic resection of the accessory spleen. She was discharged on postoperative day 6 without complication. Hereditary spherocytosis thus may, in cases, recur in the presence of accessory spleens.

Key words
hereditary spherocytosis, recurrence, accessory spleen

Reprint requests
Yo Kurashima Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, Hokkaido University
North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638 JAPAN

Accepted
March 24, 2010

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