Splenic Cavernous Hemangioma Treated with Laparoscopic Splenectomy —A Case Report—

Abstract

Primary splenic tumors, including cysts, hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, hamartomas, malignant lymphomas, metastatic tumors, and angiosarcomas, are uncommon. We report a case of a 25-cm large splenic cavernous hemangioma, which is the largest reported hemangioma to date in Japan, treated by laparoscopic splenectomy after selective splenic artery embolization.

A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed as having a splenic tumor by abdominal ultrasonography at another hospital 2 years and 5 months previously and was under observation. She was referred to our hospital because of nausea. We diagnosed a 25-cm large splenic cavernous hemangioma. Selective splenic artery embolization was performed on the day before surgery to avoid intraoperative hemorrhage and decrease the spleen size. Her abdominal pain was managed using continuous epidural anesthesia and oral analgesics. She underwent laparoscopic splenectomy after manipulation of the splenic artery and vein at the splenic hilum. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged 9 days postoperatively. Laparoscopic splenectomy using the internal approach technique and selective splenic artery embolization are useful procedures for the management of large splenic tumors.