[Rupture of the spleen in angiosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature]

Abstract

Splenic angiosarcoma is a rare neoplasm originating from endothelial cells of the blood vessels. Its incidence is about 0.14-0.25 per million. We report the case of a patient admitted in a state of hypovolaemic shock with haemoperitoneum due to rupture of the spleen. Splenectomy was performed with evacuation of the haemorrhagic effusion. The blood was aspirated and in part instilled during the operation through intraoperative blood salvage due to the large haemoperitoneum. Histological examination revealed a splenic angiosarcoma. Splenic angiosarcoma should be suspected in cases of splenomegaly with unknown anaemia and no lymphoma, leukaemia or myelofibrosis, because of its neoplastic aggressiveness and its invariably fatal outcome. It is important to perform a splenectomy before splenic rupture owing to its negative impact on long-term survival.