Functional Asplenia in Immunoblastic Lymphoma

A 65-year-old woman with a prior history of rheumatoid arthritis with Sjögren's syndrome experienced immunoblastic lymphoma initially seen as fever and subsequent acute splenic enlargement. A technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid scan disclosed minimal uptake in the spleen, which was compatible with the diagnosis of functional asplenia. Herein, the causes of functional asplenia are reviewed, and the rare nature of this phenomenon in lymphomata is stressed.