title: Laparoscopic management of a ruptured giant epidermoid splenic cyst.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermoid splenic cysts are uncommon lesions of the spleen. They are known to become symptomatic as a consequence of enlargement, infection, or rupture, the latter being an exceedingly rare complication traditionally treated with open splenectomy. We herein report a unique case of a giant epidermoid splenic cyst that ruptured spontaneously and was successfully treated with the laparoscopic approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic surgery may be considered an initial treatment option in cases of very large epidermoid cysts even when rupture occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiriakopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsakayannis
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linos
mesh_terms: D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*