The scintigraphic appearance of the spleen following splenic artery resection.

Sequential 99mTc-sulfur colloid scans were performed on 4 patients following resection of the splenic artery and vein during donor pancreatectomy. Immediate postoperative scans showed markedly decreased or absent uptake. Over a period of two weeks the appearance returned to normal in 3 and peripheral defects were seen in 1. A patient studied after splenic artery ligation for trauma also demonstrated prompt recovery. These studies show that the normal spleen can tolerate ligation of the splenic artery and vein.