Accessory Splenectomy in the Management of Recurrent Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-1998

Description

Although splenectomy for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is successful in the majority of patients, recurrence of thrombocytopenia may occur in association with a functional accessory spleen, sometimes years after operation. Identification and resection of the accessory spleen under these circumstances may result in a sustained remission. We describe a case of recurrent thrombocytopenia associated with an accessory spleen occurring 5 years after splenectomy in a young woman with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Accessory splenectomy was successful in producing a sustained remission.

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