title: Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, an unusual disease.
abstract: We report the case of a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and he suffered an atraumatic splenic rupture. Splenic rupture not associated with trauma is a rare entity that can occurs in normal spleen (spontaneous) or damaged spleen (pathological). This entity may be associated with local inflammatory processes, such as pancreatitis. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique which is used in unstable patients. CT is useful for making a diagnosis of extension in patients with hemodynamic stability. Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of chronic pancreatitis is an unusual disease that requires a high index of suspicion which allows us an early diagnosis because it is a treatable entity that compromises the patient's life.
authors.affiliation: Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Granada, España.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moya Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Granada.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medina Benítez
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography