Splenic infarcts are comparatively less common lesions. Caused by occlusion of the major splenic artery or any of its branchs, they are almost always due to emboli that arise in the heart. The spleen, along with kidneys and brain, ranks as one of
the
most frequent sites of localization of systemic emboli. The infarcts may be small or large, multiple or single, or sometimes involve the entire organ. Usually the infarcts are of the bland, anemic type. Septic infarcts are found in vegitative
endocarditis of the valves of the left side of the heart. Mush less often, infarcts in the spleen are caused by local thromobses, especially in leukemia, the myeloproliferative syndrome, sickle cell anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, Hodgkin's
disease,
and
bacteremic diseases. We have experienced rather unusual splenic infarction without any underlying diseases after URI symptoms in a 39 years old man.
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