Immune System

Spleen - Inflammation

Narrative

Comment:

Inflammation is an uncommon lesion in the spleen of rodents, and when present, infectious agents are the most likely cause (Figure 1 and Figure 2, arrowheads). In NTP studies, the five standard categories of inflammation are acute, suppurative, chronic, chronic active, and granulomatous. In acute inflammation, the neutrophil is the predominant infiltrating cell, though fewer macrophages and lymphocytes may also be present. Edema or hyperemia may be evident. The neutrophil is also the predominant cell type in suppurative inflammation, but the neutrophils are aggregated, and many of them are degenerate (suppurative exudate) (Figure 1 and Figure 2, arrows). Cell debris, from both the resident cell populations and infiltrating leukocytes; proteinaceous fluid containing fibrin, fewer macrophages, occasional lymphocytes, or plasma cells; and, possibly, an infectious agent (Figure 1 and Figure 2, arrowheads) may also be present within the exudate. Grossly, these lesions would be characterized by the presence of pus. In the tissue surrounding the exudate, there may be fibroblasts, fibrous connective tissue, and mixed inflammatory cells, depending on the chronicity of the lesion. Lymphocytes predominate in chronic inflammation. Lymphocytes also predominate in chronic active inflammation, but there are also a significant number of neutrophils. Chronic and chronic active inflammation may contain macrophages. Granulomatous inflammation is another form of chronic inflammation, but this diagnosis requires the presence of a significant number of aggregated, large, activated macrophages, epithelioid macrophages, and/ or multinucleated giant cells.

Recommendations:

When present, inflammatory lesions in the spleen should be diagnosed and graded. The inflammation should be categorized based on the predominant cell population present by adding the appropriate modifier to the diagnosis (acute, chronic active, etc.). The word "abscess" should be used as a gross diagnosis only; abscesses should be diagnosed as suppurative inflammation. Associated lesions, such as necrosis or hemorrhage, should not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity, but should be described in the pathology narrative. If the inflammation is secondary to another lesion, such as necrosis or neoplasia, it should not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity, but should be noted in the narrative.

References:

National Toxicology Program. 1989. NTP TR-362. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 4-Vinyl-1-Cyclohexene Diepoxide (CAS No. 106-87-6) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Dermal Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/6985

National Toxicology Program. 1993. NTP TR-427. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Turmeric Oleoresin (CAS No. 8024-37-1) (Major Component 79%-85% Curcumin, CAS No. 458-37-7) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/5998

Stefanski SA, Elwell MR, Stromberg PC. 1990. Spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat: Reference and Atlas (Boorman GA, Eustis SL, Elwell MR, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, 369-394.

Ward JM, Mann PC, Morishima H, Frith CH. 1999. Thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. In: Pathology of the Mouse (Maronpot RR, ed). Cache River Press, Vienna, IL, 333-360.

All Images

Spleen - Inflammation, Suppurative in a male F344/N rat from a chronic study. Suppurative inflammation (arrow) borders a large focus of bacteria (arrowhead) within the splenic red pulp.

Spleen - Inflammation, Suppurative in a male F344/N rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). Bands of degenerate neutrophils admixed with necrotic cellular debris (arrow) surround the bacteria colonies (arrowhead).

Authors and Reviewers

Authors

Kristen Hobbie, DVM, PhD
Principal Pathologist
Huntingdon Life Sciences
Peterborough, UK

Susan A. Elmore, MS, DVM, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Staff Scientist, NTP Pathologist
NTP Pathology Group
National Toxicology Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Research Triangle Park, NC

Holly M. Kolenda-Roberts, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Veterinary Pathologist
SNBL USA
Everett, WA

Reviewers

Jerrold M. Ward, DVM, PhD, DACVP, FIATP
Veterinary Pathologist
Global VetPathology
Montgomery Village, MD

Robert R. Maronpot, DVM, MS, MPH, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC