Case Report
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2006; 12(13): 2133-2135
Published online Apr 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i13.2133
Spontaneous rupture of splenic hamartoma in a patient with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and portal hypertension: A case report and review of the literature
Yasuji Seyama, Nobutaka Tanaka, Yoshio Suzuki, Motoki Nagai, Takatoshi Furuya, Yukihiro Nomura, Jimpei Ishii, Masakazu Nobori
Yasuji Seyama, Nobutaka Tanaka, Motoki Nagai, Takatoshi Furuya, Yukihiro Nomura, Jimpei Ishii, Masakazu Nobori, Department of Surgery, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan
Yoshio Suzuki, Department of Pathology, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Yasuji Seyama, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Asahi General Hospital, I-1326, Asahi City, Chiba 289-2511, Japan. seyamay-sur@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-479-63-8111 Fax: +81-479-60-1210
Received: June 15, 2005
Revised: June 25, 2005
Accepted: July 1, 2005
Published online: April 7, 2006
Abstract

Spontaneous rupture is a rare complication of splenic hamartoma. A review of the literature revealed only four such cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous rupture of splenic hamartoma associated with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A 53-year-old woman, who was followed up for aortic dissection and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis, was referred with sudden left chest and shoulder pain. An abdominal ultrasound showed intraabdominal bleeding, and computed tomography indicated rupture of a splenic tumor. Emergent splenectomy was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 13th postoperative day. Pathology revealed the tumor to be a ruptured splenic hamartoma. The non-tumorous splenic parenchyma revealed congestive changes. We consider that the presence of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension are risk factors for spontaneous rupture of the splenic hamartoma.

Keywords: Splenic hamartoma; Spontaneous rupture; Hepatitis C virus; Cirrhosis; Portal hypertension