Thoracic splenosis: a case report and the importance of clinical history.
We present a case of thoracic splenosis in a 42-yr-old man with a medical history of abdominal surgery for a penetration injury with an iron bar of the left abdomen and back. He had been in good condition, but a chest radiograph taken during a regular checkup showed a multinodular left pleura-based mass. Computed tomography (CT) showed that the mass was well-enhanced and homogeneous, indicating a sclerosing hemangioma. Following its removal by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the mass appeared similar to a hemangioma, with marked adhesion to the left side diaphragmatic pleura and lung parenchyma. Frozen section showed that the lesion was a solid mass consisted with abundant lymphoid cells, suggesting a low grade lymphoma. On permanent section, however, the mass was found to be composed of white pulp, red pulp, a thick capsule and trabeculae and was diagnosed as ectopic splenic tissue, or thoracic splenosis. Review of the patient's history and chest CT at admission revealed that the patient had undergone a splenectomy for the penetration injury 20 yr previously.
Kim
Kyungeun
K
Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Hye-Jeong
HJ
Kim
Young Min
YM
Kwon
Woon Jung
WJ
Lee
Won Chan
WC
Suh
Jae Hee
JH
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy; D017890:Splenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed