Spontaneous splenic rupture

Abstract

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare entity. It is usually associated with infectious, neoplastic, or hematologic diseases. Unlike traumatic splenic rupture, spontaneous rupture of the spleen is not often considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and can be easily confused with other abdominal pathology. Failure to consider splenic rupture can be catastrophic. We report a case of atraumatic splenic rupture in a patient with no underlying disease pathology. This illustrates the importance of keeping a broad differential in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain and should remind the physician to consider the diagnosis of spontaneous nontraumatic splenic rupture. Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2004.