Laparoscopic splenectomy for inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen: report of a case *
Inflammatory pseudotumors are benign lesions which occur in a variety of organs. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen is a very rare entity characterized by the histological features of nonspecific inflammatory cell infiltration and mesenchymal proliferation. It is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, because it mimics a splenic neoplasm both clinically and radiographically. A 65-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a splenic mass by abdominal ultrasonography during follow up of the postoperative course of right breast cancer eight years before. An abdominal CT scan revealed an isodensity mass in the spleen, and ultrasonography disclosed a low echoic mass. We diagnosed the mass as an inflammatory pseudotumor, a hamartoma, metastasis of the spleen, or malignant lymphoma. Then, we performed a laparoscopic splenectomy. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as an inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen. Laparoscopic splenectomy is considered to be a useful diagnostic and/or operative procedure for splenic tumors. (Accepted on April 11，2005)
