First case report of splenomegaly with splenic infarction due to aortic graft infection.

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of aortic graft infections (AGI) is challenging. Here, we report a case of AGI with splenomegaly and splenic infarction.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old man who underwent total arch replacement for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection one year prior presented to our department with fever, night sweat, and a 20-kg weight loss over several months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed splenic infarction with splenomegaly, fluid collection, and thrombus around the stent graft. Positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) revealed abnormal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the stent graft and spleen. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed no vegetations. The patient was diagnosed with an AGI and underwent graft replacement. Blood and tissue cultures in the stent graft yielded Enterococcus faecalis. After the surgery, the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Splenic infarction and splenomegaly are the clinical findings of endocarditis but are rare in graft infection. These findings could be helpful to diagnose graft infections, which is often challenging.