title: Spontaneous splenic rupture in patient with metastatic melanoma treated with vemurafenib.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib are a new family of biological drugs, recently available to treat metastatic malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 38-year-old man affected by metastatic melanoma who had been under treatment with vemurafenib for a few days. The patient suffered from sudden onset of abdominal pain due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage with profuse hemoperitoneum. An emergency abdominal sonography confirmed the clinical suspicion of a splenic rupture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intraoperative finding was hemoperitoneum due to splenic two-step rupture and splenectomy was therefore performed. Histopathology confirmed splenic hematoma and capsule laceration, in the absence of metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report describes the occurrence of a previously unreported adverse event in a patient with stage IV melanoma receiving vemurafenib.
authors: Department of General and Oncologic Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Castellani
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Covarelli
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Boselli
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Cirocchi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Rulli
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Barberini
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Caracappa
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Cini
authors: Jacopo
authors: J
authors: Desiderio
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Burini
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Noya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077484:Vemurafenib
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf