Description
The specimen shows the tail of the pancreas and the spleen bound together by scar tissue and with
an area of old haemorrhage at the upper pole of the spleen and of more recent haemorrhage in the
tail of the pancreas. The pancreas itself shows scarring on the surface and in its substance.
History
This woman presented at the age of 41 with a left pleural effusion. This was aspirated
and later a left subphrenic abscess was drained. Because of persistent left-sided discomfort a partial
pancreatectomy and splenectomy were carried out; the aetiology of the abscess has not been
established but it may have been on the basis of haemorrhage.