title: [Splenic metastasis from a bronchial carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated splenic metastases from a bronchial carcinoma, without other visceral metastatic involvement, are exceptionally uncommon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors report the finding of an isolated splenic metastasis 21 months after a left pneumonectomy for an undifferentiated large cell carcinoma, initially staged pT3N1M0. The splenic metastasis presented as a major deterioration in general health and sharp pains in the left hypochondrium. Splenectomy confirmed the metastatic nature of the splenic tumour and relieved the severe abdominal pains. Two years after the splenectomy and with out adjuvant treatment the patient remains in complete remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splenectomy for a metastasis from a bronchial carcinoma should avoid the later complications of this type of metastasis: severe abdominal pain, splenic rupture and compression of neighbouring vessels. If the bronchial carcinoma is controlled locally and the splenic metastasis is isolated, splenectomy offers, perhaps, a further chance of prolonged survival.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital de Longjumeau, Longjumeau, France. Pascal.ASSOULINE@ch-longjumeau.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Assouline
authors.forename: M-B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leger-Ravet
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kardache
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Decoux
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kettaneh
authors.forename: J-N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Faucher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliviero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery