title: Long-term outcome after surgical treatment of nonparasitic splenic cysts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The optimal treatment for patients with nonparasitic splenic cysts is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients treated for a symptomatic splenic cyst, and to define a surgical strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spleen-preserving surgery (9 laparotomies and 6 laparoscopies) was performed for a primary cyst in six patients and a secondary cyst in nine patients. The median follow-up time was 37.5 months. Partial splenic resection was performed for eight patients and cyst decapsulation for seven patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cyst recurrence was observed in four patients after decapsulation of a primary splenic cyst, as compared with none after resection. Postoperative complications were encountered only after laparotomy (5/9). The median hospital stay was 3.5 days (range, 2-5 days) after laparoscopy, as compared with 9 days (range, 5-14 days) after laparotomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic splenic cysts should be treated laparoscopically. For patients with recurrent or suspected primary splenic cysts, laparoscopic partial splenectomy is preferable. For other cases, a laparoscopic decapsulation is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Penninckx
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: DeWever
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Topal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome