Splenic hamartoma: a case report

Splenic hamartomas are benign vascular tumors initially described by Rokitansky in 1861. They are mostly asymptomatic and encountered incidentally. Large hamartomas may be palpable and can result in splenomegaly or rupture. A 55-year-old female presents to our medical facility for routine screening. Medical history reveals no prior operation or morbidity. Routine abdominal ultrasound revealed a 6x5 cm hypoechoic splenic mass containing cystic changes. A computed tomography was performed to establish a differential diagnosis, which revealed a mass in the anterior part of the spleen with a similar density to normal parenchyma and containing patchy hypodense areas. Based on these findings, an ultrasound guided tru-cut biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of splenic hamartoma. In conclusion, splenic hamartomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of well-circumscribed, hypervascular, solid and hypoechoic or isodense lesions when encountered on abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography.