Non-traumatic False Cyst of the Spleen: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

False cysts have no cellular lining and usually originate from past abdominal trauma. We herein report a 23-year-old woman with an asymptomatic splenic false cyst. She had no history of abdominal trauma. Abdominal computed tomography showed a cystic lesion without internal structure. In contrast, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography revealed an inhomogeneous internal structure without fluid/debris level. Although the images were not typical of a splenic false cyst, the surgically excised mass histologically showed a splenic false cyst (no epithelial element). Non-traumatic splenic false cysts are rare and show nonspecific clinical findings and symptoms. The recommended treatment is splenectomy.

Keywords: non-traumatic; splenectomy; splenic false cyst.

Figure 1.

Abdominal US, CT, and MRI findings.

Figure 2.

Intraoperative image of the splenic lesion.

Figure 3.

Macro and microscopic appearance of the splenic false cysts. The splenic lesion was fixed with formaldehyde. A photograph was taken (a). The specimens were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and observed with a microscope (original magnification ×40).