Splenic Primary Solid Tumors : Does a Preoperative Histopathology Diagnosis Really Matter?

BACKGROUND

The present study aims to present a case series of patients who underwent splenectomy for splenic primary solid tumors without preoperative histopathologic diagnosis.

METHODS

From 2013 to 2019, 12 patients underwent splenectomy for solid primary splenic tumors at 3 different academic medical centers. All electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Seven (58.3%) patients were women, and 5 (41.6%) were male. The median age was 48 years (range: 25-72 years). In 8 (66.6%) patients, a conventional approach was performed. In 2 (16.6%), a hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery procedure was completed, and in other 2 (16.6%) patients, a laparoscopic approach was auspiciously achieved. Median operative time was 135 minutes (range: 60-210 minutes), and median blood loss was 500 mL (range: 200-1500 mL). Procedure-related morbidity was found in 2 (16.6%) patients, and the mortality rate was 0%. The final histopathologic diagnosis was lymphoma in 5 (41.6%) patients, lymphangioma in 3 (25%) patients, hamartoma in 2 (16.6%) patients, angiosarcoma, and sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) in 1 (8.3%) case each.

CONCLUSION

Splenectomy should be the treatment of choice when encountering a primary splenic tumor without the need for preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy, avoiding the complications this technique entails.