Patterns of Metastatic Cancer in the Spleen

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Abstract
Ninety three cases of metastatic cancer in the spleen are reviewed. These are divided into seven groups on the basis of both size of the metastases and their locations within the spleen. The probable mode of dissemination of tumor in each group is discussed. Group I contains 11 cases in which secondary tumor is wholly within venous sinusoids. Groups II and III are composed of cases in which microscopic nodules of tumor replaced small amounts of parenchyma. The former contains six examples of metastases to the red pulp only, which in the latter is 1 case with secondary tumor limited to the white pulp. Group IV is composed of a single example of tumor only in a trabecular vessel. In Group V are the 12 cases with microscopic metastases in several different elements of the spleen. Group VI is comprised of 54 cases with gross nodular metastases. The pathogenesis is considered similar to their microscopic counterparts (Groups II and HI). In Group VII are 8 cases with diffuse replacement of the entire spleen.