title: Thrombocytopenia caused by splenic hamartoma: resolution after splenectomy.
abstract: We report a rare case of isolated thrombocytopenia due to a large hamartoma of the pulposal type, which resolved with splenectomy in a 46-year-old man. Although hamartomas are usually found incidentally, they may cause hematologic disturbances such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, or splenic rupture. The diagnosis of splenic hamartoma is difficult to make preoperatively. Splenectomy is important in excluding malignant tumors from the diagnosis when the etiology of a splenic mass is unclear and ameliorating hematologic symptoms related to hamartomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-1998, USA.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Compton
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McHenry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aijazi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chung-Park
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed