Giant Splenic Cyst with Hypersplenism: Laparoscopic Splenectomy

Abstract

Splenic cysts are rare lesions with approximately 800 cases reported in the world literature. Splenic cysts associated with hypersplenism are even rarer and only few cases have been described. They have been classified as "true" or "pseudo" cysts based on the presence or absence of an epithelial lining. We report a case of giant true splenic cyst. A 29-year- old Saudi woman presented with one year history of abdominal pain and sensation of fullness in her left upper abdomen. She gave a vague history of abdominal trauma one year back. Abdominal ultrasonography and Computed Tomography (CT) revealed a giant splenic cyst almost replacing the splenic parenchyma and abutting the splenic hilum. Laboratory tests revealed a picture of hypersplenism. She was treated successfully by laparoscopic splenectomy. The pathological examination confirmed a true cyst with epithelial lining. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the blood count returned normal.