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Splenic infarction: 10 years of experience.

Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Mar;27(3):262-5

Authors: Antopolsky M, Hiller N, Salameh S, Goldshtein B, Stalnikowicz R

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the clinical presentation of splenic infarction. METHODS: A retrospective examination of files during a 10-year period was conducted. Only computed tomography-proven diagnoses of splenic infarction were included. Signs, symptoms, medical history, and results of investigation were recorded. RESULTS: We found 49 episodes of acute splenic infarction. Abdominal or left flank pain was the most common symptoms (80%), and left upper quadrant tenderness was the most common sign (35%). Splenic infarction was the presenting symptom of underlying disease in 16.6% of the patients. Based on the computed tomography results, ultrasound was diagnostic only in 18% of patients. There was no in-hospital mortality or serious complications. DISCUSSION: We present, to the best of our knowledge, the largest series of patients with splenic infarction diagnosed on clinical and radiological grounds. Awareness of the diagnostic possibility of splenic infarction in a patient with unexplained abdominal pain is important because it can be the presenting symptom of potentially fatal diseases.

PMID: 19328367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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