Traumatic pseudocyst of the spleen

Abstract

Four patients with pseudocyst of the spleen gave histories of abdominal trauma. In one patient the pseudocyst had ruptured, necessitating emergency splenectomy 34 years after the original injury. In a second patient the pseudocyst was discovered incidentally, and was managed by spleen-preserving excision; and the third and fourth presented with abdominal pain and had splenectomy and spleen-preserving surgery, respectively. All patients with conservatively treated splenic injury are at risk of developing a pseudocyst of the spleen, and the lesion can be detected by computed tomography or ultrasound. When there are no symptoms the natural history is unknown; but if surgery is necessary, splenectomy can sometimes be avoided.

Non-traumatic pseudocyst of the spleen: A case report

“…Macroscopically, they may contain internal debris. Microscopically, these cysts are composed of dense fi brous tissue, oft en calcifi ed, with no epithelial lining 2,6 .…”

True and Pseudocysts of the Spleen - A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Problem

“…Pseudocysts develop as a consequence of a blunt abdominal cavity injury, after which the subcapsular or interstitial tissue splenic hematoma is surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, and its contents liquidated and transformed into a serous form (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). In case of splenic pseudocysts patients usually complain of abdominal pain, located in the left epigastrium (3,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Additionally, patients complain of lack of appetite, loss of body weight (5), a feeling of fullness in the left epigastrium (10), or belching (11).…”

“…Features of comppressing the stomach might be observed during upper gastrointestinal endos- (3). Some alleged splenic pseudocysts may be palpable during the physical examination (3,5,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Sometimes they do not cause any symptoms and are incidentally discovered during imaging examinations performed for other reasons (2, 4, 5, 13), or cause symptoms which develop after some time, since accidental diagnosis (9).…”

“…Sometimes they do not cause any symptoms and are incidentally discovered during imaging examinations performed for other reasons (2, 4, 5, 13), or cause symptoms which develop after some time, since accidental diagnosis (9). The greatest danger to the patient resulting from the presence of a splenic pseudocyst is related to the possibility of its rupture and accompanying bleeding (5). Splenic cysts are diagnosed by means of imaging examinations.…”

“…Therefore, X-ray images of the abdominal cavity are virtually of no diagnostic significance in case of splenic cysts. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography play the major role in the diagnosis of splenic cysts (2,3,5,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)). Prior to planned surgery serological tests should be performed, in order to exclude the possible echinococcal infection (3,8,9,13,14).…”