title: What is a reliable CT scan for diagnosing splenosis under emergency conditions?
abstract: Splenosis is a condition in which splenic tissue is present in a non-anatomical position. Implants of splenic tissue can mimic neoplasms and only specific examinations can confirm the correct diagnosis. Here we report a case of a 23-year-old male patient with a history of surgical splenectomy during childhood after trauma. He was admitted to the emergency department with acute bowel obstruction. An abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed small bowel obstruction and the presence of two rounded, solid masses located in the rectal-vescical pouch. Quantitative analyses of the different density values in the arterial phase and early portal venous phase demonstrated that these lesions were highly vascularised (92 and 97 Hounsfield Units, respectively). The hypothesis of an ectopic splenic mass was made after evaluation of the CT images and clinical history. The acute bowel obstruction caused by adhesive intestinal syndrome was resolved by surgical adhesiolysis. The smallest mass adherent to the rectum was removed. Histopathologic examination confirmed the benign nature of the lesion, which consisted of splenic tissue.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco Giuseppe
authors: FG
authors: Garaci
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Grande
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Villa
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Mancino
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Konda
authors: Grazia Maria
authors: GM
authors: Attinà
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Galatà
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D017890:Splenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide