A rare case of isolated splenic sarcoidosis: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease. It is rarely isolated in the spleen. The present report describes a case of isolated splenic sarcoidosis that was diagnosed histologically following laparoscopic splenectomy. A 76-year-old woman, who underwent radical nephroureterectomy 7 years earlier for left renal pelvic cancer and mastectomy 6 years earlier for left breast cancer in another facility, was referred to our hospital for assessment of splenic tumors that were identified during a follow-up examination. The computed tomography scans revealed multiple nodules in the spleen, which had increased in size over 2 years. Positron emission tomography revealed accumulation of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose in the spleen. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed histologically. A review of previous reports and the present case suggested that diagnosis of splenic sarcoidosis should be considered when the CT scans show multinodular splenic tumors, and sarcoidosis might be associated with malignant tumors.