Histopathological study and audit of the spleen in Nigerians

and histopathological findings in spleens received at the histopathology laboratory of the Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 119 consecutive splenectomy specimens received within a period of 18 years were analysed with respect to age, sex, pathological diagnoses and indication for splenectomy. There were 76 males and 43 females with a mean age of 34.8 years (STD 19.6 years). Spleen weight, size, the presence of malarial parasite as well as fibrosis was not documented in many cases. The most frequent finding both grossly and microscopically was haemorrhagic necrosis from laceration of the spleen arising from trauma (62.7% of all cases). Road traffic accident (RTA) accounted for 86% of all trauma cases and was the predominant finding in both sexes up to the age of 50 years. Thereafter, haematological malignancy was the predominant finding in the spleen. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was the most common haematological malignancy in the spleen. The indications for splenectomy correlated well with the histological findings (kappa=0.81). Pathological description of spleen specimens is inadequate. Trauma is the major reason for splenectomy. In elderly Nigerians, splenectomy specimen would likely show CLL. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (3-4) 2007: pp. 195-200