Spleen Flashcards
a small, round island of splenic tissue often located near
the splenic hilum or near the tail of the pancreas; also referred to as a
splenule, a splenunculus, or a supernumerary spleen
accessory spleen
a rare malignant tumor of the spleen that is derived from
blood vessels
angiosarcoma
the gradual fibrosis and dysfunction of the spleen
secondary to a disease
autosplenectomy
an infection of the surface of the heart that can
spread to other organs
bacterial endocarditis
the splenic process of removing irregular red blood cells from the bloodstream
culling
a herpesvirus that can lead to infectious
mononucleosis
epstein barr infection
the process of making red blood cells
ereythropoiesis
the spleen’s hematopoietic function which
can return in cases of severe anemia
extramedullary hematoiesis
an inherited disease that disrupts the normal
immune system and causes it to malfunction resulting in immunodeficiency;
chronic inflammation can lead to the development of granulomas in several
organs
granulomatous disease
a benign tumor composed of blood vessels
hemangioma
a situation in which the organs of the chest and
abdomen are abnormally arranged
heterotaxia syndromes
a disease that results from the inhalation of an airborne
fungus that can affect the lungs and may spread to other organs
histoplasmosis
carcinoma of the lymphocytes that has a relatively
high recovery rate; cancer of the lymphatic system
hodgkin lymphoma
—a cyst that results from the parasitic infestation of an organ by
a tapeworm
hydatid cyst
—carcinoma of the lymphocytes; cancer of the
lymphatic system
non hodgkin lymphoma`
the splenic process of cleaning red blood cells of unwanted material
pitting
specialized tissue within the spleen that performs its phagocytic
function
red pulp
—the cells that indicate the presence of Hodgkin
lymphoma
reed-sternberg cells
a systemic disease that result in the development of
granulomas throughout the body
sarcoidosis
a congenital anomaly in which the spleen is divided into two portions by a band of tissue
splenic cleft
benign splenic mass that has been associated with
Beckwith–Weidemann syndrome and tuberous sclerosis
splenic hamartoma
an area within the spleen that has become necrotic because
of a lack of oxygen
splenic infarct
benign tumor composed of lymph spaces
splenic lymphangioma
the implantation of ectopic splenic tissue possibly secondary to
splenic rupture
splenosis
an accessory spleen
splenule
a systemic disorder that leads to the development of
tumors within various organs
tuberous sclerosis
specialized lymphatic tissue within the spleen
white pulp
The splenic artery can be confused for the ______ in some patients because it takes a similar course in the body
main pancreatic duct
The spleen is typically either _____ or more ______ to the liver
isoechoic, hyperechoic
The most common cause of splenomegaly is
portal hypertension
The splenic infarct is typically seen sonographically as a
hypoechoic wedge-shaped mass
The most common mass of the spleen is the
benign hemangioma
A 15-year-old male patient presents to the sonography department with a
history of left sided trauma 5 years earlier. He currently has no LUQ
discomfort. The sonographic findings of the spleen include a mass that
contains calcification producing distinct posterior shadowing. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
A. Splenic hemangioma
B. Splenic hamartoma
C. Splenic lymphangioma
D. Splenic hematoma
D
A 25-year-old female patient presents to the sonography department for a
complete abdominal sonogram. She complains of right lower quadrant
pain and nausea. The right upper abdomen appears normal. A small mass
is noted in the area of the splenic hilum. This mass appears isoechoic to
the spleen. What does this most likely represent?
A. Pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma
B. Splenic hemangioma
C. Accessory spleen
D. Neuroblastoma
C
A rare malignant tumor of the spleen that consists of blood vessels is a/an:
A. Lymphoma
B. Angiosarcoma
C. Hemangioma
D. Granuloma
B
A 48-year-old male patient with a history of severe, sudden onset of left
upper quadrant pain without trauma presents to the sonography
department for a sonogram of the spleen. You visualize a wedge-shaped,
hypoechoic area within the spleen. This most likely represents a:
A. Splenic infarct
B. Splenic hematoma
C. Splenic hemangioma
D. Splenic metastasis
A
A patient with a wandering spleen would have an increased risk for:
A. Splenic infection
B. Splenosis
C. Splenic carcinoma
D. Splenic torsion
D
What is the most common sonographic appearance of a splenic
hemangioma?
A. Echogenic
B. Hypoechoic
C. Anechoic
D. Complex
A
The process of making red blood cells is termed:
A. Erythropoiesis
B. Leukopoiesis
C. Histopoiesis
D. Anemia
A
Multiple, small echogenic foci scattered throughout the spleen in a
patient with a history of toxoplasmosis most likely represent:
A. Sarcoidosis
B. Granulomas
C. Lymphangiomas
D. Hemangiomas
B
The splenic artery marks the:
A. Posterior aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
B. Superior aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
C. Medial surface of the pancreatic body and tail
D. Lateral aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
B
The most common cause of splenomegaly is:
A. Hepatitis
B. Portal hypertension
C. Lymphoma
D. Trauma
B
The splenic hamartoma may be discovered more often in individuals with
a history of:
A. HIV
B. Splenic carcinoma
C. Tuberous sclerosis
D. Meckel–Gruber syndrome
C
The type of tissue within the spleen that is responsible for its phagocytic function is the:
A. Red pulp
B. White pulp
C. Culling pulp
D. Pitting pulp
A
A 32-year-old female patient presents to the sonography department for
an abdominal sonogram. An evaluation of the spleen reveals a 1-cm,
rounded, echogenic mass that does not produce acoustic shadowing.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Lipoma
C. Splenic metastasis
D. Hemangioma
D
Which of the following is a benign lesion that is a congenital
malformation of the lymphatic system:
A. Lymphangioma
B. Hemangioma
C. Angiosarcoma
D. Myeloma
A
The spleen is a/an:
A. Intraperitoneal organ
B. Retroperitoneal organ
A
The type of tissue within the spleen that is responsible for its lymphatic function is the:
A. Red pulp
B. White pulp
C. Culling segment
D. Pitting segment
B
Which of the following children would least likely suffer from sickle cell
anemia?
A. African-American
B. Caucasian
C. Middle Eastern
D. Mediterranean
B
The splenic vein marks the:
A. Posterior aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
B. Anterior aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
C. Medial surface of the pancreatic body and tail
D. Lateral aspect of the pancreatic body and tail
A
All of the following are functions of the spleen except:
A. Storage of iron
B. Defense against disease
C. Blood reservoir
D. Destruction of phagocytic cells
D
A 26-year-old patient with a long-standing history of multiple sickle cell
crises and subsequent splenic infarctions presents to the sonography
department for an abdominal sonogram. After thoroughly evaluating the
left upper quadrant, only a fraction of splenic tissue can be identified.
This describes the process of:
A. Splenomicroly
B. Asplenia
C. Splenosis
D. Autosplenectomy
D
Where is the most common location of an accessory spleen?
A. Superior to the spleen
B. Medial to the diaphragm and left kidney
C. Splenic hilum
D. Anterior to the pancreatic body
C
All of the following can be associated with splenomegaly except:
A. Trauma
B. Hemolytic abnormalities
C. Mononucleosis
D. Pancreatitis
D
What is the splenic process of cleaning red blood cells of unwanted
material:
A. Pitting
B. Plucking
C. Culling
D. Coring
A
Diffuse involvement of lymphoma or leukemia of the spleen will often
lead to:
A. Splenomegaly
B. Splenic atrophy
C. Epstein–Barr infection
D. Splenic torsion
A
The splenic artery originates at the:
A. Superior mesenteric artery
B. Inferior phrenic artery
C. Celiac trunk
D. Gastroduodenal artery
C
Which of the following is a congenital anomaly in which the spleen is
divided into two portions by a band of tissue?
A. Splenic infarct
B. Splenic cleft
C. Splenosis
D. Splenic impertecta
B
A 35-year-old male patient presents to the sonography department for an
abdominal sonogram with a history of abdominal pain and
histoplasmosis. What are you more likely to identify within the spleen?
A. Multiple histomas
B. Multiple hemangiomas
C. Multiple metastatic lesions
D. Multiple granulomas
D
A 14-year-old male patient presents to the sonography department after falling from his bicycle. An abdominal sonogram reveals a complex
appearing mass within the spleen. This most likely represents a:
A. Splenic hemangioma
B. Splenic granuloma
C. Splenic hematoma
D. Splenic infarct
C
A sickle cell crisis will often lead to:
A. Splenic metastasis
B. Sarcoidosis
C. Splenomegaly
D. Wandering spleen
C
Epstein–Barr infection is best described as:
A. A herpesvirus that can lead to infectious mononucleosis
B. A herpesvirus that is often associated with splenic granulomatous
disease
C. An infection that results in sickle cell anemia in children
D. An infection within a splenic hematoma following blunt trauma
A
The spleen removes irregular cells from the bloodstream through a
process called:
A. Pitting
B. Culling
C. Crimping
D. Amassing
B
An area within the spleen that has become necrotic because of a lack of
oxygen is referred to as a:
A. Splenic hemangioma
B. Splenic hematoma
C. Splenic infarct
D. Granuloma
C
What systemic disease results in the development of granulomas within
the spleen and throughout the body?
A. Granulomatosis
B. Sarcoidosis
C. Sickle cell anemia
D. Beckwith–Weidemann syndrome
B
A complex cyst that results from the parasitic infestation of the spleen by
a tapeworm is the:
A. Bacterial endocarditic cyst
B. Choledochal cyst
C. Hydatid cyst
D. Candidiasis
C
From the list below, what is the most likely clinical finding of a patient
who has a splenic hemangioma?
A. Fever
B. Decreased hematocrit
C. Elevated white blood cell count
D. Asymptomatic
D
In a patient with suspected lymphoma, the presence of Reed–Sternberg
cells indicates:
A. Hodgkin lymphoma
B. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
C. Metastatic liver disease
D. Splenic infarction
A
Which of the following describe the implantation of ectopic splenic tissue
possibly secondary to splenic rupture?
A. Splenosis
B. Polysplenia
C. Asplenia
D. Wandering spleen
A
All of the following are true of the spleen except:
A. It is the largest structure of the reticuloendothelial system
B. The primary objective of the spleen is to filter the peripheral blood
C. The spleen has a convex inferior margin and a concave superior border
D. The spleen is considered the largest lymphatic organ
C
The splenic vein joins with what structure posterior to the pancreatic
neck to form the portal vein?
A. Inferior mesenteric artery
B. Superior mesenteric vein
C. Inferior mesenteric artery
D. Main hepatic vein
B
Small echogenic foci scattered throughout the spleen most likely
represent:
A. Multiple benign hemangioma
B. Multiple benign hematomas
C. Multiple benign granulomas
D. Malignant lymphoma
C
