title: Spontaneous splenic rupture in atypical (Philadelphia chromosome negative) chronic myeloid leukaemia following blastic crisis.
abstract: Philadelphia chromosome negative and bcr/abl negative chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is an uncommon atypical CML. We describe a patient with this disorder who experienced an acute blastic transformation that resulted in rapid splenic enlargement and subsequent atraumatic splenic rupture. Clinically, spontaneous splenic rupture may be a difficult diagnosis to make and this case highlights the importance of considering atraumatic splenic rupture as a cause for unexplained abdominal pain in a patient with a haematological malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA. anandsachithanandan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sachithanandan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gleadhill
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: T C M
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000150:complications*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D054438:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic, Atypical, BCR-ABL Negative / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome