Studies on the spleen in Nigerians are rare. This study reviewed
retrospectively the gross 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