Splenectomy for Myeloid Metaplasia of the Spleen

SINCE the report of Rathery1 in 1902, many cases of leukoerythroblastic anemia associated with myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia of the spleen have been described. This syndrome has been designated by a variety of descriptive terms, among which "agnogenic myeloid metaplasia"2 has been popular in recent years. The subject has been extensively reviewed by several authors.3 4 5 Donhauser,6 in 1908, suggested that the disorder was brought about by a primary depression of bone-marrow function, possibly resulting from toxic or other untoward influences, and that extramedullary blood formation occurred in the spleen and liver as a compensatory reaction. In 1937 Hickling3 first called . . .