Incidental irradiation of the spleen: RCR guidance

UK guidance recommending that the spleen be contoured whenever it may be irradiated, that the mean splenic dose be reported, and that it be kept below 10 Gy when clinically appropriate. Patients above 10 Gy should be considered at higher risk of late functional hyposplenism, with vaccination and antibiotic prophylaxis discussed.

Why the spleen is now contoured in upper GI plans: a mean dose above 10 Gy is linked to late hyposplenism and infection risk.