What is a parasplenium? What tests can be done?

  Parasplenium is a splenic nodule that develops congenitally independently of the normal spleen, unlike ectopic splenic tissue caused by trauma. Parasplenic spleens are usually single, no larger than 2 cm in length, often located near the splenic hilum or along the splenic vasculature, and they are still supplied by the splenic artery and have a splenic hilum and normal structural envelope.  Although parasplenic spleens are usually asymptomatic and mostly found incidentally, they have important clinical implications for certain patients. First: parasplenium can be easily confused with enlarged lymph nodes and tumors of the pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys, and other organs. Second: spontaneous rupture and bleeding of the pars splenium can produce symptoms. Again: the presence or absence of a parasplenic spleen is important in patients who want to surgically remove functional splenic tissue.  Typical CT presentation: well-defined, uniformly dense, uniformly enhancing round soft tissue nodules.