title: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen: a rare but important differential of an acute abdomen.
abstract: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen, although previously documented, is a rare phenomenon. It commonly occurs in a pathologic spleen, usually owing to hematological manifestation. We describe a rare incident of spontaneous splenic rupture presenting to an emergency department as a first manifestation. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the importance of considering spontaneous rupture of the spleen as a rare but important differential of an acute abdomen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College London Hospital NHS Trust, NW3 2YT London, UK. jaerhee@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Shin-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Yezen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheena
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imber
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*