Uncommon cause of pneumoperitoneum

Abstract

Free intraperitoneal air is thought to be pathognomonic for perforation of a hollow viscus. Here, we present a patient with pain in the upper left quadrant, a mild fever and leukocytosis. Free air was suggested under the left diaphragm but during the explorative laparotomy no signs of gastric or diverticular perforation were seen. Further exploration and revision of the computed tomography revealed a perforated splenic abscess. Splenic abscesses are a rare clinical entity. Presenting symptoms are often non-specific and include upper abdominal pain, recurrent or persistent fever, nausea and vomiting, splenomegaly, leukocytosis and left lower chest abnormalities. Predisposing conditions can be very divergent and include depressed immunosuppressed state, metastatic or contiguous infection, splenic infarction and trauma. Splenic abscess should therefore be considered in a patient with fever, left upper abdominal pain and leukocytosis. Moreover, our case shows that splenic abscess can present in an exceptional way without clear underlying aetiology and should even be considered in the presence of free abdominal air.