Medical Emergencies · single question
A patient is noted to have had a splenectomy 5 years ago in their medical history (buried in a lengthy case). What condition most likely required the splenectomy?
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Correct answer: B. Sickle cell anemia
B) Sickle cell anemia — CORRECT.
Sickle cell disease commonly leads to autosplenectomy (functional loss of the spleen from repeated infarctions) or surgical splenectomy due to splenic sequestration crises. This is a well-known complication of SCD. The dental implications: increased infection risk (functional asplenia), susceptibility to encapsulated organisms (S. pneumoniae), anemia-related complications, and vaso-occlusive crises.
A) ITP: Can require splenectomy but is much less common as a cause than SCD.
C) Hereditary spherocytosis: Can require splenectomy but less classically associated than SCD in board questions.
D) Lymphoma: Treatment may involve spleen but splenectomy is not a primary treatment approach.
Sickle cell disease commonly leads to autosplenectomy (functional loss of the spleen from repeated infarctions) or surgical splenectomy due to splenic sequestration crises. This is a well-known complication of SCD. The dental implications: increased infection risk (functional asplenia), susceptibility to encapsulated organisms (S. pneumoniae), anemia-related complications, and vaso-occlusive crises.
A) ITP: Can require splenectomy but is much less common as a cause than SCD.
C) Hereditary spherocytosis: Can require splenectomy but less classically associated than SCD in board questions.
D) Lymphoma: Treatment may involve spleen but splenectomy is not a primary treatment approach.
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