Splenic lymphangioma in adult patient treated with laparoscopic splenectomy: A rare case report

Abstract

Splenic lymphangioma is a benign cystic tumor that develops as a result of lymphatic vessels’ congenital abnormalities. It is a rare condition that mostly occurs in children and young adults. Due to the lack of typical symptoms and signs, splenic lymphangioma is difficult to diagnose and often incidentally revealed during radiological examinations. We report a case of a 55-year-old Asian female, who presented with left upper quadrant abdominal pain in the past 3 days. She had mild upper abdominal tenderness, with no other specific findings. Abdominal contrast material–enhanced computed tomography revealed three hypodense lesions arising from a normal-sized spleen. The histologic findings after laparoscopic splenectomy demonstrated a 3-cm-diameter yellowish-white tumor made up of multiple cystic structures. Primary benign splenic tumors are exceedingly rare, especially in adults over 20. While small lesions are mostly asymptomatic, bigger lesions can cause organ compression or even rupture. Therefore, even in adults with pain in the left upper quadrant abdomen or enlarged spleen, splenic lymphangioma should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis. The case serves as an example of a rare congenital splenic tumor. Treatment of this benign splenic abnormality with laparoscopic splenectomy is a good, safe approach.