Thoracic splenosis mimicking thoracic schwannoma: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Thoracic splenosis is a rare entity. It occurs sometime after splenic and diaphragmatic injury, and it is rarely symptomatic.

CASE DESCRIPTION:

We report a case of left upper thoracic paraspinal splenosis 25 years after a thoracoabdominal penetrating trauma that required a splenectomy. The pathology was suspected on a routine chest x-ray and it mimicked a schwannoma on magnetic resonance imaging. Less than 40 cases of thoracic splenosis were described in the literature, but few were misinterpreted as schwannoma.

CONCLUSION:

Alertness to the possibility of thoracic splenosis can lead to confirmation of the diagnosis with technetium Tc 99m-tagged red blood cell radionuclide scanning based on a previous history of traumatic splenectomy.

• Authors: Ali M Alaraj, Roukoz B Chamoun, Nader S Dahdaleh, Pierre M Sfeir, Mohamad S Miski, Zaher K Otrock, Ghassan S Skaf
• Journal: Surgical neurology (Surg Neurol) Vol. 64 Issue 2 Pg. 185-8; discussion 188 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0090-3019 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16051021 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Adult
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neurilemmoma (diagnosis)
• Radiography, Thoracic
• Splenectomy
• Splenosis (diagnosis)
• Thoracic Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Time Factors
• Wounds, Penetrating (surgery)