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Congestion
Etiology

Any abnormality leading to elevated splenic vein pressures
Cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension, heart failure with systemic venous hypertension, portal or splenic vein thrombosis
Sepsis may result in acute congestion of spleen
Pathogenesis

Elevated venous pressure results in higher sinusoidal pressures
Fibroses over time with increased pressure,
Epidemiology

Common finding in patients with congestive heart failure (up to 500 g) or cirrhotic liver disease
General Gross Description

Enlarged reddish purple spleen
Longer the spleen is congested the more firm it becomes
•Examples:
Congestion
General Microscopic Description

Red pulp sinusoids filled with blood
Over time fibrosis of the sinusoid walls secondary to increased pressures with dilatation
Hemosiderin deposition following RBC destruction in dilated sinusoids
Nodules of hemosiderin-laden macrophages with calcium deposition and fibrosis are Gandy-Gamma nodules
•Examples:
Clinical Correlation

Enlarged spleen is vulnerable to trauma
Persistent enlargement may lead to RBC destruction
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 670.

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Congestion
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T07000M36100)[413]
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