Possible infectious causes of spontaneous splenic rupture: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous atraumatic splenic rupture is a rare but dramatic occurrence that is most commonly attributed to infection or neoplasia. Deciphering the etiology can be challenging with many cases remaining unclear despite full investigation. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a previously healthy and immunocompetent 52-year-old Caucasian woman with a remote history of clinically diagnosed infectious mononucleosis who experienced sudden atraumatic splenic rupture after an untreated stray cat bite. CONCLUSIONS: The differential diagnosis for atraumatic splenic rupture, specifically its infectious causes, is reviewed. Key clinical and laboratory findings that differentiate Bartonella henselae infection and Epstein-Barr virus reinfection are reviewed.