title: Spontaneous splenic rupture during induction chemotherapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia successfully treated with splenectomy.
abstract: We report a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia who suffered spontaneous splenic rupture with massive hemoperitoneum while receiving intensive induction chemotherapy. Emergency computed tomography of the abdomen helped in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal bleeding. The patient was successfully treated with immediate splenectomy and made an uneventful postoperative recovery. Ten days after surgery chemotherapy could be resumed and complete remission was achieved. Although spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare complication of hematologic malignancies, this diagnosis should be considered in all patients with leukemia who develop acute abdominal pain with hypotension, even in the absence of splenomegaly.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia, Istituto Scientifico Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inverardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catona
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003630:Daunorubicin