Spontaneous rupture of spleen masquerading as acute pancreatitis.

Splenic rupture most commonly follows blunt abdominal trauma. Nontraumatic rupture of the spleen is rare. Nontraumatic rupture of the spleen has been described in a variety of pathologic conditions, which include neoplastic, infectious, and hematologic diseases affecting the spleen. Spontaneous rupture of nondiseased spleen is extremely rare. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of spleen in a chronic alcoholic clinically simulating acute pancreatitis.