A case of colon cancer metastasizing to the spleen.

A case of colon cancer metastasizing to the spleen is reported. The patient was a 43-year-old man who was laparotomized under the diagnosis of colon cancer. The tumor of the transverse colon showed a small ulcer and polypoid projections. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was noted in the mucosa. Marked tumor metastasis was found in the parenchyma of the spleen and the peripancreatic, portohepatic, mesenteric and periaortic lymph nodes. The literature on the incidence and mechanism of metastasis to the spleen was reviewed, and metastasis to the spleen was found to be not infrequent at a late or advanced stage of cancer.