title: Atraumatic splenic rupture secondary to Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: We present a case report of atraumatic splenic rupture secondary to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A woman aged 36 years presented to a London teaching hospital's Accident and Emergency department with severe abdominal pain following a 6-day history of diarrhoea and vomiting, which had been under review by her GP. A CT scan demonstrated free intraperitoneal fluid and abnormal appearance of her spleen. Blood tests demonstrated EBV infection with positive serology and leucocytosis. She underwent a laparoscopic washout, which confirmed a subcapsular splenic haematoma that was initially managed conservatively. However, she subsequently re-presented with increasing pain and required an elective splenectomy. This case demonstrates the risk of splenic rupture following EBV infection, even in the absence of trauma, and highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate counselling in patients with infectious mononucleosis.
authors.affiliation: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnwell
authors.affiliation: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paramjeet Singh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Deol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000072700:Conservative Treatment; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed