Reticuloendothelial System: Vascular, Nonvascular, and Oncologic

The reticuloendothelial system is the portion of the immune system consisting of phagocytic cells found in reticular connective tissue in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. For the purposes of this chapter, the discussion will be limited to interventions within the spleen and the lymphatic system. Splenic arterial interventions are performed to treat a variety of clinical conditions, including abdominal trauma, hypersplenism, splenic arterial aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm, portal hypertension, and splenic neoplasm, and they provide an alternative to open surgery. Although not commonly performed, percutaneous splenic biopsy and drainage are relatively safe and efficacious procedures. Lymphangiography is a therapeutic option for patients with chylothorax, chylous ascites, and lymphatic fistula. Percutaneous thoracic duct embolization (TDE) is an alternative to surgical ligation of the thoracic duct (TD).