a case of solitary metastatic tumor in the spleen after colonectomy treated by a laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy *
We report a case of solitary metastatic tumor in the spleen after colonectomy treated by a laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy. A 69-year-old male was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer and underwent a right hemicolonectomy with level 3 lymph node dissection. Six years later, elevation of his serum CEA level was observed. A tumor of the spleen was detected by FDG-PET. A diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma of the spleen was made and resection of the spleen by laparoscopic-assisted surgery was performed. Based on pathological examination, a diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma in the spleen tissue derived from colon cancer was made. A case of solitary metastatic tumor in the spleen after colonectomy treated by a laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy is rare and this is only the third case in Japan. We think cases like this may be treated with laparoscopic surgery if the surgery is preceded by a small laparotomy and adhesiolysis is done. (Accepted on January 13, 2009)
