Abstract
We report a case of laparoscopic splenectomy in the management of metastasis to the spleen. A 74-year-old woman underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, ileocecal resection, and partial cystectomy for ovarian cancer (serous adenocarcinoma, pT3bN1M0 Stage IIIc) in June 1997. She also underwent a partial mastectomy for left breast cancer (Stage I) in 2007 and for right breast cancer (Stage I) in 2009. In April 2010, a low density 5 mm mass was detected in the spleen with an abdominal computed tomography scan. After 23 months, the splenic mass had increased to 28 mm in size. Since 2-deoxy-2 [fluorine-18] fluroro-D-glucose (FDG), positron emission tomography (PET) revealed strong uptake at the splenic tumor and showed no evidence of metastasis to other organs, solitary splenic metastasis from ovarian cancer or breast cancer was strongly suspected. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery for diagnosis and treatment of the splenic lesion. Histological examination revealed splenic metastasis from ovarian cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered, and she has shown no sign of tumor recurrence, 7 months after surgery. Splenic tumors are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is complicated. The laparoscopic approach is a safe and effective alternative for the management of splenic tumors.
