Successful Treatment of Spontaneous Rupture of the Spleen by Embolization of Splenic Artery in a Patient with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia and COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen (SRS) is a rare clinical entity with a potentially poor medical outcome. In most cases, SRS is caused by neoplastic disorder. Acute promyelocytic leukaemia is a rare but important cause of SRS that physicians are required to assess for. We present a 28-year-old woman with APL and COVID-19 pneumonia, who successfully underwent embolisation of the splenic artery for spontaneously occurring splenic rupture during induction chemotherapy. After the intervention the patient completed induction chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. Our case demonstrates that emergent transcatheter arterial embolisation can be lifesaving even in the unfavourable condition of a patient with severe immune deficiency.