Korean J Urol Oncol.  2016 Dec;14(3):176-180. 10.22465/kjuo.2016.14.3.176.

Splenosis Mimicking Recurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma after Radical Nephrectomy: A Case Report

• Kim J
• Hwang H
• Lee JS
• Park J
• Kim EY
• Park I

• KMID: 2368953
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22465/kjuo.2016.14.3.176

Abstract

Splenosis refers to the heterotropic autotransplantation of splenic tissue. Sometimes splenosis after surgical resection is difficult to differentiate from recurrence or metastasis of cancer. A 49-year-old male patient was diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma of left kidney. As there was no evidence of metastasis, he underwent radical nephrectomy with splenectomy. On surveillance computed tomography, masses at nephrectomy site and pleura were found and both were initially considered to be recurrence. After several cycle of pazopanib administration, pleural mass decreased in size while mass at nephrectomy site did not respond at all. Spleen scan showed increased uptake of the mass and therefore the mass was revealed to be splenosis. To avoid unnecessary treatment and planning optimal treatment, considering the possibility of splenosis is important and spleen scan can be helpful.

Keyword

Splenosis; Accessary spleen; Renal cell carcinoma; Spleen scan; Scintigraphy

MeSH Terms

Autografts
Carcinoma, Renal Cell*
Humans
Kidney
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Nephrectomy*
Pleura
Radionuclide Imaging
Recurrence*
Spleen
Splenectomy
Splenosis*
Transplantation, Autologous