Partial splenectomy for benign cystic lesions of the spleen.

Cystic lesions of the spleen are uncommon, about 600 cases being reported in the world literature. This report concerns three pediatric patients treated by partial splenectomy for benign cyst. In the world literature most of the cystic lesions of the spleen are treated by splenectomy and more recently by partial splenectomy. The infected lesions are treated by splenectomy or by incision and drainage only. Partial splenectomy has evident advantage over splenectomy. Although in the world literature we have not found a single case of infected splenic benign cyst treated by partial splenectomy, we believe that this procedure also has an advantage over drainage as the infected and necrotic part of the cyst is removed, thereby reducing morbidity and further possible complications.