Abscess of an accessory spleen.

Accessory spleens are not infrequent and occur in 11 to 44 per cent of the population with a greater incidence in those with hematological disease. They may remain clinically silent or result in a number of pathologic processes. Abscess of an accessory spleen is rare but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin or sepsis in select groups of patients. Computerized tomography is the imaging modality of choice and may also be used in the percutaneous drainage of select cases. Laparoscopic splenectomy in the hands of the experienced laparoendoscopic surgeon is a viable treatment option.