Published online Aug 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i24.7231
Peer-review started: April 8, 2021
First decision: May 11, 2021
Revised: May 24, 2021
Accepted: July 2, 2021
Article in press: July 2, 2021
Published online: August 26, 2021
Splenic hamartoma (SH) is a rare, benign vascular proliferation that is often found incidentally. It may be misdiagnosed as a splenic aneurysm or splenic malignancy.
A 21-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of an incidentally discovered asymptomatic splenic space-occupying lesion for 2 wk. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a circular low-density shadow in the hilum of the spleen. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed an aneurysm located in the hilum of the spleen before operation. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed and postoperative pathology revealed the presence of SH.
Imaging studies are insufficient for the differential diagnosis of SH from other diseases, and laparoscopic splenectomy is a less invasive procedure and useful for the diagnostic purpose as well.
Core Tip: Splenic hamartoma (SH) is a rare, benign vascular proliferation that is found incidentally and often misdiagnosed. We present a case of incidentally discovered asymptomatic splenic space-occupying lesion, which was misdiagnosed as a splenic aneurysm. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed and postoperative pathology revealed the presence of SH. The findings of this case study emphasize that imaging studies are insufficient for the differential diagnosis of SH from other diseases, and laparoscopic splenectomy is a less invasive procedure that is useful for diagnostic purposes as well.