title: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen. A fatal complication of pregnancy.
abstract: Spontaneous splenic rupture in pregnancy is a rare and potentially catastrophic event. As many as 76 cases have been identified in the past 190 years by a variety of authors. This case report describes splenic rupture during the immediate postpartum period. The exact cause of the rupture could not be determined, and it was consistent with a spontaneous rupture.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Pathologists, Inc., Bossier City, Louisiana 71111, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*