title: An unusual case of retroperitoneal accessory spleen with vascular supply directly from the aorta.
abstract: We report on a case of a retroperitoneal accessory spleen with vascular supply directly from the aorta. A 47-year old woman presented with a six-month history of epigastric pain, intermittent nausea and vomiting. The CT scan of the abdomen revealed the presence of a retroperitoneal tumor between the spleen, left kidney and pancreas. The MR-tomography confirmed the presence of a solid tumor, with vascular supply directly from the aorta. The exploratory laparotomy showed the presence of a well-shaped accessory spleen, which was confirmed by the histological examination of the specimen. The surgeon should be aware of the possible existence of accessory spleens for the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Clinic of the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, G. Gennimatas Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souparis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Papaziogas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koutelidakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paraskevas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papaziogas
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed