[Intrathoracic splenosis]

Abstract

Intrathoracic splenosis is an unusual event after diaphragmatic and splenic rupture, which causes intrathoracic mass lesions. It results from spontaneous autotransplantation of splenic tissue to serous surfaces. On chest X-rays, three different radiological appearances were distinguished: pulmonary mass lesions, pleural lesions and mediastinal tumors. Since the radiological appearance is nonspecific, a diagnosis may only be suspected together with the characteristic anamnesis. In those case scintigraphy should be performed because this method may verify the diagnosis. Here we report the radiological and clinical appearances of this entity by one of our own and 13 well-documented cases in the literature.