The interpretation of splenic pathology is perceived as difficult by many histopathologists. Few diseases arise primarily within the spleen, and most pathology seen at this site represents involvement of the organ by processes originating elsewhere and/or also affecting other tissues in the body. Primary diagnosis has often been made from haematological, microbiological or histopathological investigations of other tissues by the time splenectomy is performed. The role of the histopathologist in most cases is to provide confirmation of the known, or suspected, diagnosis and to exclude unsuspected pathology.

Splenic pathology is an area of shared interest for histopathologists, haematologists, oncologists and surgeons. The key to successful interpretation of splenic pathology lies in obtaining adequate clinical information and in ensuring optimal tissue fixation. Dialogue between the various clinicians involved in diagnosis and care of individual patients is required to achieve these factors. Without this dialogue, no amount of expertise in splenic histology can provide full answers to clinical problems.

In this book, we have aimed to present a succinct, comprehensive account of those aspects of splenic pathology likely to be encountered by diagnostic histopathologists. We hope we have provided useful guidance to permit confident recognition of normal and non-specifically reactive histological appearances in the spleen. We have also attempted to convey principles of systematic analysis which can be applied to achieve diagnoses following recognition of broad categories of abnormality affecting individual splenic compartments. The use of immunohistochemistry, cytogenetic and molecular genetic investigations to supplement morphological analysis is described where appropriate.