A case of primary splenic lymphoma presenting as a splenic abscess

Choi, Paul; Park, Sang Won; Kang, Myung Ju; Jung, Eun Uk; Park, Eun Taek; Lee, Sang Hyuk; Seol, Sang Yong

Abstract

Primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is very rare, with a reported incidence of less than 1% of all malignant lymphomas. The differential diagnosis of a solitary splenic mass should include benign entities, such as hemangioma, hamartoma, simple cyst, and metastatic carcinoma, as well as abscess. We report a case of primary splenic lymphoma presenting as a splenic abscess. A 27-year-old man presented with left upper quadrant pain for 3 days. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a splenic mass, a well-defined hypodense lesion (4.5*4 cm) in the posterosuperomedial aspect of the spleen. The patient improved clinically with percutaneous drainage of the spleen cystic mass and antibiotic therapy. After 8 months, he presented again with left upper quadrant pain and fever. Abdominal CT revealed progression of the splenic mass (5*.5 cm) with some internal hemorrhage. The patient underwent splenectomy for a definitive diagnosis and treatment. At surgery, a splenic tumor was found with no evidence of it involving other sites, and it was confirmed pathologically as a diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the spleen.