title: Late development of splenic artery aneurysm after orthotopic liver transplantation: a case report.
abstract: Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is a rare complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Although SAAs are often incidental findings, in some cases they present with signs and symptoms of abdominal mass or intra-abdominal hemorrhage. The diagnosis requires Doppler ultrasound and confirmation with computed tomography, magnetic resonance, or angiography. Endovascular techniques are preferred to surgery for the treatment of most SAAs. A variable interval from 6 days to 11 years has been reported between OLT and the diagnosis of SAA, justifying a lifelong scheduled surveillance of abdominal vessels by ultrasound after OLT. Herein we have reported a case of SAA that developed 16 years after OLT. This pathological condition was totally asymptomatic. Only routine abdominal ultrasound allowed its detection and subsequent successful treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, "A. Gemelli" Hospital, Rome, Italy. terapiamedica@tin.it
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Annicchiarico
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Avolio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Stasi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agnes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siciliano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000792:Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler