Quantitative Estimates of Changes in Splenic Size During Life †

Investigations of splenic size have been hampered in part by a lack of suitable methodologies. During the past several years, radiographic and radioisotopic procedures have begun to provide techniques for studying the size of the spleen in vivo. When data gathered by these procedures are combined with the results of in vitro studies, an improved (albeit still incomplete) picture of splenic growth and involution begins to emerge. In the present communication we have combined some of the recent studies in this laboratory with data from other reports, in order to present a broad view of the topic.