A second spleen was discovered during an ultrasound of my eight-month-old son. The discharge from the hospital said there was an organ with a spleen density, but not with the confidence that it was the other spleen. Is it possible that my child actually has two spleens? And if so, does the latter perform any functions? Is the body "protected" twice? Does this have any effect on life or the occurrence of any illnesses?

The accessory spleen is a relatively common developmental defect, statistics say that it affects 10% of population. It is detected accidentally during ultrasound examination. During the next tests, inform the doctor performing the ultrasound about the presence of an additional spleen. Sometimes it can cause ailments or diseases, but in most cases it is asymptomatic.

Remember that our expert's answer is informative and will not replace a visit to the doctor.

Krystyna Knypl

Internist, hypertensiologist, editor-in-chief of "Gazeta dla Lekarzy".

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