[Non-traumatic rupture of the spleen].

BACKGROUND

A non-traumatic rupture of the spleen is a rare, serious condition with a high mortality rate. This sort of rupture can occur in a healthy patient or in patients with an underlying disease such as an infection or a haematological disorder.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Here we describe a 52-year-old man who had Legionella pneumonia and suffered a spontaneous rupture of the spleen. He had to undergo a splenectomy following an unsuccessful embolisation of the lienal artery. He recovered. In the second patient, a 73-year-old man with monoclonal gammopathy, rupture of the spleen was caused by amyloidosis of the spleen.

CONCLUSION

Rupture of the spleen can cause life threatening haemorrhage, so early recognition is important.