title: Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for a splenic hamartoma.
abstract: We present a patient with a hamartoma of the spleen. The case was thought to be a good indication for a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach and treatment was successful. Until now, only one case of a laparoscopic removal of a splenic hamartoma has been reported. Focal lesions of the spleen should be removed intact to allow a complete histological examination and to avoid peritoneal dissemination in case of malignancy. In these patients, the hand-assisted approach makes possible the removal of an unminced organ and has the advantage of being a purely laparoscopic technique. It should thus be considered the method of choice for surgical treatment.
authors: Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, School of Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy. continis@unipr.it
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Contini
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Corradi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*