SummaryEpithelial splenic cysts are rare entities that surgeons might not have previously encountered and their management is based on historical studies.A 21-year-old female presented with a cyst of the spleen that produced a high serum concentration of carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9. A partial splenectomy with the removal of the entire cyst and preservation of splenic parenchyma by laparotomy was performed and the patient made an uneventful recovery. A microscopic rupture of the wall of the cyst and degradation of blood in the fluid of the cyst were confirmed. Eighteen months following surgery a functional splenic parenchyma was documented. There was no episode of infection during this follow-up time.Partial surgical splenectomy with resection of the entire cyst prevents recurrence and preserves splenic function.
BACKGROUND
Correspondence to Iordanis N Papadopoulos, ipapado@med.uoa.gr
BackgroundEpithelial splenic cysts are rare entities which surgeons may not have previously encountered. Their management is based on historical studies.
Case presentationA 21-year-old woman presented with a cyst of the spleen that produced a high serum concentration of carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9. A partial splenectomy with removal of the entire cyst and preservation of the splenic parenchyma by laparotomy was performed and the patient made an uneventful recovery. A microscopic rupture of the wall of the cyst and blood degradation products in the fluid of the cyst were confirmed. A functional splenic parenchyma was documented 18 months after surgery. There was no infection during follow-up.
ConclusionPartial surgical splenectomy with resection of the entire cyst prevents recurrence and preserves splenic function.
BACKGROUND
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