Splenic mass of uncertain etiology in a 15-year-old male patient: a case report

Acute Med Surg. 2019 Oct 28;7(1):e464. doi: 10.1002/ams2.464. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Background: There are few reports on spleen masses, and solitary splenic abscesses with abdominal pain have not been reported in younger age groups. We report a case of a splenic mass of uncertain etiology in a 15-year-old boy.

Case presentation: A 15-year-old boy visited the emergency department with abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a thin-walled multilobular splenic cyst. Computed tomography revealed a cystic shadow and a septate structure in the spleen. Magnetic resonance imaging examination revealed a high-signal region on the T2-weighted image. The neutrophil ratio in the white blood cell count of 8,330/µL was high (80%), and splenic abscess could not be ruled out. Thus, therapy with 2 g/day fosfomycin was initiated. Abdominal pain disappeared on day 3 of hospital stay, and the patient was discharged on day 8.

Conclusion: Antibiotic therapy can be effective against very acute onset splenic abscesses, although surgical treatment is usually carried out.

Keywords: Abdominal pain; fasting therapy; fosfomycin; intraabdominal infection; lymphangioma; splenic abscess; splenic disease; splenic mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports