Splenic cyst. Case report
Abstract
Introduction: splenic cysts are rare at any age and few cases are published worldwide. They are usually asymptomatic, but when they reach large size, the compression of neighboring organs causes several non-specific symptoms. Their treatment varies from partial splenectomy to total splenectomy when there is hilum involvement.
Objective: to present the case of a patient with splenic cyst, diagnosed and treated in the General Surgery Service of the Provincial General Teaching Hospital "Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola" of Ciego de Ávila.
Case presentation: a 39-year-old male patient with a health history who was admitted for acute appendicitis; during an ultrasonographic examination, a complex image was observed in the splenic hilum, predominantly echolucent and with well-defined borders that was diagnosed as a splenic cyst. One year later the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy and a cystic tumor was found covering the lower pole and the hilum of the spleen, and a total splenectomy was carried out. Anatomopathological analysis confirmed that it was a simple splenic cyst, with no evidence of malignancy.
Discussion: the laparoscopic approach of splenic cysts has results comparable to open intervention; in this case total splenectomy was carried out by conventional surgical intervention because the cyst comprised the lower pole of the spleen and its hilum.
Conclusions: true splenic cysts are extremely rare. Its etiology is a matter of controversy. Its most frequent manifestations are abdominal pain in the left hypochondrium and splenomegaly.