[Preoperative selective embolization allowing a partial splenectomy for splenic hamartoma].
OBJECTIVE
To underline value of the preoperative splenic embolization with haemostatic aim to facilitate partial splenectomy.


METHODS
Observation of a 23-year-old woman, admitted for pain, anemia, and mass of the left hypochondrium. Sonography, helical CT and MRI showed that the bulky mass was developed from the upper pole of spleen, and dislodged the left kidney towards the pelvis. This mass had fibrous characteristics in favour of a primary lesion with recent bleeding and was compatible with a splenic hamartoma.


METHODS
Selective partial splenic embolization with haemostatic aim using metal coils, immediately followed by surgery.


RESULTS
Preoperative embolisation made possible to carry out under optimal surgical conditions a partial splenectomy with en-bloc resection of the splenic mass. Histologic diagnosis was splenic hamartoma of pulpar type.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the interest of accurate characterization of splenic lesions by several imaging techniques allowing indication for conservative surgery, and of preoperative embolization facilitating a partial splenectomy.
Mignon
F
F
Service de radiologie, hôpital de Versailles, 157, avenue de Versailles, 78157, Le Chesnay, France. fmignon@ch-versailles.fr <fmignon@ch-versailles.fr>
Brouzes
S
S
Breitel
D L
DL
Bastie
J N
JN
Poirier
H
H
Legendre
C
C
Briard
P
P
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome