title: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen: three case reports and causative processes for the radiologist to consider.
abstract: Splenic rupture is most commonly encountered after blunt abdominal trauma. Atraumatic spontaneous splenic rupture is a rarer entity and can occur in both histologically normal and diseased spleen. It has a high morbidity, as there is often little or no clinical history to suggest its presence, and is generally diagnosed after imaging. We describe three experiences of spontaneous splenic rupture at our institution and discuss possible causes for the radiologist to consider.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn BB2 3HH, UK. surajamonkar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Amonkar
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome