Littoral hemangioma of the spleen

• Published in: Minerva chirurgica Vol. 56; no. 1; p. 97
• Main Authors: Voghera, P, Fontana, D, Coverlizza, S, Fusca, M, Della Beffa, V, Pisacane, A M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Italian
• Published: Italy 01.02.2001
• Subjects: Aged; Hemangioma - surgery; Humans; Male; Splenic Neoplasms - surgery
• ISSN: 0026-4733

The authors report a rare case of littoral hemangioma of the spleen (LHS) accompanied by a revision of the literature on the argument. A male 65-year-old patient was referred to their attention with suspected ultrasonographic diagnosis of lymphoma with a splenic localisation. The complete CT diagnosis led to suspected splenic angioma. During surgery, anatomopathological analysis of the biopsy revealed LHS. The pathological anatomy showed lesions ranging in size from small foci to large nodules which almost completely replaced the splenic parenchyma. These areas were made up of vascular canals or axes that imitate splenic sinuses and have irregular lumen, often appearing as papillary projections and cyst-like spaces; they are bordered by high (cylindrical) endothelial cells that project into the vascular lumen and reveal hemophagocytosis; there is very little mitotic activity. The patient was discharged 7 days after surgery. The authors underline the extreme rarity of this neoplasm and the virtual absence of symptoms, although some cases report signs of hypersplenism, including platelet deficiency and anemia. The diagnostic iter must take care to exclude other pathologies affecting the spleen, including lymphoma, metastases and primary malignant splenic tumours. Lastly, a differential diagnosis must be made with the malignant variant, littoral hemangiosarcoma of the spleen.