Which is the most common congenital anomaly of the spleen?

Which is the most common congenital anomaly of the spleen?

• A. Wandering spleen
• B. Heterotaxia
• C. Situs Inversus
• D. Accessory spleen (splenule)

Answer: (D)

An accessory spleen is the most common congenital splenic abnormality. It occurs when separate splenic tissue buds fail to fuse during embryonic development, leaving one or more nodules of splenic tissue separate from the main organ. These splenules usually sit near the hilum of the spleen, but they can be near the tail of the pancreas or along the splenic vessels. They look and behave like normal splenic tissue on imaging because they share the same echotexture and blood supply from the splenic artery. Most are incidental findings and asymptomatic. The presence of accessory spleens is clinically relevant because, if the primary spleen is removed (for example, during treatment of certain hematologic disorders), the accessory tissue can continue to function and potentially sustain disease activity. The other options describe the spleen being displaced or the overall arrangement of visceral organs, which are much less common than accessory spleens.

An accessory spleen is the most common congenital splenic abnormality. It occurs when separate splenic tissue buds fail to fuse during embryonic development, leaving one or more nodules of splenic tissue separate from the main organ. These splenules usually sit near the hilum of the spleen, but they can be near the tail of the pancreas or along the splenic vessels. They look and behave like normal splenic tissue on imaging because they share the same echotexture and blood supply from the splenic artery. Most are incidental findings and asymptomatic.

The presence of accessory spleens is clinically relevant because, if the primary spleen is removed (for example, during treatment of certain hematologic disorders), the accessory tissue can continue to function and potentially sustain disease activity. The other options describe the spleen being displaced or the overall arrangement of visceral organs, which are much less common than accessory spleens.