Splenosis

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Splenectomy following rupture in motor vehicle accident 20 years prior to the first scan. CT scan for unrelated reasons.

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male

2008

ct

Multiple uniformly enhancing rounded masses.  Absent spleen due to splenectomy for trauma many years ago.

2016

ct

Scan in 2016 for renal calculi, noted multiple rounded mass lesion in peritoneal fat.  

Case Discussion

The presence of splenic tissue outside the spleen can be due to 2 causes, either an accessory spleen (splenunculi) or splenosis whereby small fragments of spleen that break off the organ (usually due to trauma) can implant and gain a blood supply acting as small independent spleens.  This is said to be surprisingly common (65% of traumatic splenic rupture)!

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