Morphological studies of the spleen in splenomegalic liver cirrhosis comparing with the spleen in idiopathic portal hypertension (so-called Banti's syndrome without liver cirrhosis).

Morphological changes of the spleen in splenomegalic liver cirrhosis (SLC) were studied. Comparisons with the normal spleen and the spleen of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) were made by (1) light microscopy with histometry, (2) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with histometry, and (3) SEM of the spleen vascular replica. Histometrical studies by light microscopy showed that in both SLC and IPH, the white pulp volume was decreased in random units of splenic tissue but increased in the whole spleen, whereas the red pulp volume was increased both in random units of splenic tissue and in the whole spleen. The increase in the total volume of the white pulp was less marked in SLC than in IPH. SEM histometry demonstrated in the red pulp an increase in small venous sinuses and narrowing of the Billroth cord in SLC and IPH. Narrowing of the Billroth cord was more marked in SLC than in IPH. SEM of the white pulp showed channels formed by reticulum cells around the central artery in SLC and IPH. The channels are thought to correspond to so-called "follikuläre Fibroadenie" or periarterial fibrosis. The spleen vascular replica demonstrated open arterial termination into the tissue spaces in the Billroth cord in SLC, IPH and the normal. Venous sinuses were arranged in bundles in SLC and IPH.