title: A rare case of a splenic hamartoma in a patient with a huge palpable abdominal mass: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splenic hamartoma is a primary benign tumor of the spleen, which is often found incidentally. Splenic hamartomas are very rare, with approximately 150 cases documented in the literature to date. They represent benign vascular proliferation. Histological findings consist of disorganized stroma and vascular channels of varying width, with or without lymphoid follicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 39-year-old Greek woman, with no significant medical history, who was diagnosed incidentally with an enormous splenic hamartoma on computed tomography, finally confirmed by surgery and histopathology. Hamartomas are benign lesions, and it is important to differentiate them from malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hamartoma represents a rare vascular entity characterized by a cluster of differentiation 8-positive immunophenotype. It is usually asymptomatic but large hamartomas may present with symptoms such as hemopoetic disorders, which resolve after splenectomy. It is important for radiologists to be able to differentiate splenic hamartoma from malignant entities.
authors: Paraskevi
authors: P
authors: Vlachou
authors: Computed Tomography Department, Konstantopouleio General Hospital, Agias Olgas 3-5, 14233 Nea Ionia, Greece. fdbl@ath.forthnet.gr.
authors: Dimitris
authors: D
authors: Fagkrezos
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Tzivelopoulou
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Kyriakopoulou
authors: Petros
authors: P
authors: Maniatis
authors: Charikleia
authors: C
authors: Triantopoulou
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Papailiou
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010173:Palpation; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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