Primary malignant tumors of the spleen are curiously rare and most of the published material con
sists of reports of individual patients, and an accurate clinical incidence can not be stated.
In spite of approximately 198 splenic malignant tumors reported to date, the natural history of
primary splenic tumors remains unclear.
Primary splenic neoplasms are sarcomatous. They grow rapidly and are usually accompanied by persistent pain and tenderness in the left upper quadrant of the abdoman.
A review of the literature reveals that angiosarcoma again is an extremely rare form of primary splenic malignant tumor. It is difficult to interpret accurately how many cases of hemangiosarcoma of the spleen can be accepted since many reports lack most required information. In the acceptable few, the prognosis has invariably been fatal.
In Department of Surgery, Korea General Hospital, authors had experienced a case of angiosarcoma of the spleen confirmed by tissue pathology, which was operated upon splenectomy with good results. The spleen measured 30 by 16 by 11 centimeters and weighed 3,800 grams.
The patient has remained free to date 2 years following splenectomy. Literatures on the subject were reviewed.
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