Howell--Jolly bodies: a clue to splenic infarction

Acute splenic infarction is characterized by left upper quadrant pain and occasionally by a friction rub. The differentiation from other intra-abdominal vascular diseases, such as ischemic bowel disease, renal infarction, and emboli to the mesenteric vessels can be difficult, and often the correct diagnosis has been made only at surgery or autopsy. In the past few years, radioisotope scanning of the spleen with technetium (/sup 99m/Tc) sulfur colloid has come into general use and appears to be a valuable aid in confirming the diagnosis. We describe the case of a patient with left upper quadrant abdominal pain of unknown origin in whom the appearance of Howell-Jolly bodies in her peripheral blood film proved to be an early sign of splenic infarction