Thrombocytopenia Caused by Splenic Hamartoma
Thrombocytopenia Caused by Splenic Hamartoma
We report a rare case of isolated thrombocytopenia due to a large hamartoma of the pulposal type, which resolved with splenectomy in a 46-year-old man. Although hamartomas are usually found incidentally, they may cause hematologic disturbances such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, or splenic rupture. The diagnosis of splenic hamartoma is difficult to make preoperatively. Splenectomy is important in excluding malignant tumors from the diagnosis when the etiology of a splenic mass is unclear and ameliorating hematologic symptoms related to hamartomas.
Tumors of the spleen are rare. Hemangiomas and lymphangiomas are the most common benign tumors and hemangiosarcoma the most common malignant tumor. Inflammatory pseudotumor and hamartoma can also occur in the spleen and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a splenic mass.
A hamartoma is a disorganized mixture of normal tissue components indigenous to an affected organ. Hamartomas of the spleen are rare lesions first described in 1861 by Rokitansky. Splenic hamartomas are usually asymptomatic and are found incidentally during workup for other diseases or at laparotomy or autopsy. Rarely, the lesions can be associated with hypersplenism, massive splenomegaly, splenic rupture, or hemolytic anemia. We report a case of isolated thrombocytopenia due to a large splenic hamartoma. We believe only three well-documented cases of isolated thrombocytopenia associated with a splenic hamartoma have been reported previously. Our case also establishes that thrombocytopenia associated with a large splenic hamartoma resolves with splenectomy.
We report a rare case of isolated thrombocytopenia due to a large hamartoma of the pulposal type, which resolved with splenectomy in a 46-year-old man. Although hamartomas are usually found incidentally, they may cause hematologic disturbances such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, or splenic rupture. The diagnosis of splenic hamartoma is difficult to make preoperatively. Splenectomy is important in excluding malignant tumors from the diagnosis when the etiology of a splenic mass is unclear and ameliorating hematologic symptoms related to hamartomas.
Tumors of the spleen are rare. Hemangiomas and lymphangiomas are the most common benign tumors and hemangiosarcoma the most common malignant tumor. Inflammatory pseudotumor and hamartoma can also occur in the spleen and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a splenic mass.
A hamartoma is a disorganized mixture of normal tissue components indigenous to an affected organ. Hamartomas of the spleen are rare lesions first described in 1861 by Rokitansky. Splenic hamartomas are usually asymptomatic and are found incidentally during workup for other diseases or at laparotomy or autopsy. Rarely, the lesions can be associated with hypersplenism, massive splenomegaly, splenic rupture, or hemolytic anemia. We report a case of isolated thrombocytopenia due to a large splenic hamartoma. We believe only three well-documented cases of isolated thrombocytopenia associated with a splenic hamartoma have been reported previously. Our case also establishes that thrombocytopenia associated with a large splenic hamartoma resolves with splenectomy.