Thoracic splenosis.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52692/1857-0011.2025.3-83.45Keywords:
thoracic splenosis, splenic injury, diagnosis, managementAbstract
Thoracic splenosis is a rare pathology that develops as a result of autotransplantation of splenic tissue into the thoracic cavity following splenic and diaphragmatic injury. It is mostly asymptomatic and is incidentally diagnosed using regular chest radiography or thoracic computed tomography. Iinvestigation with ⁹⁹ᵐTc scans can identify splenic tissue quite accurately may prevent an unnecessary and potentially harmful operation.
References
Khan AM, Manzoor K, Malik Z, Avsar Y, Shim C. Thoracic splenosis: know it--avoid unnecessary investigations, interventions, and thoracotomy. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011;59(4):245-253.
Ullah T, Chauhan S, Friedman J, Yoeli G, Mora M, Thurm CA. Calcification in Thoracic Splenosis. Case Rep Pulmonol. 2022;2022:9538355.
Yammine JN, Yatim A, Barbari A. Radionuclide imaging in thoracic splenosis and a review of the literature. Clin Nucl Med. 2003;28(2):121-123.
Harb N, Fattore J, Saththianathan M, Parsons
S. Thoracic splenosis: Precision medicine can prevent thoracic surgery. Respirol Case Rep. 2024;12(11):e70067.
Ajala O, Yoe L, Decatur T, Cole O. Thoracic Splenosis in the Setting of Abdominal Trauma. Cureus. 2022;14(8):e27851.
Ha YJ, Hong TH, Choi YS. Thoracic Splenosis after Splenic and Diaphragmatic Injury. Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019;52(1):47-50.
Tian S, Cai Y, Tian W. Thoracic splenosis mimicking Castleman’s disease: A case report and review of the literature. Asian J Surg. 2022;45(7):1480-1481.
Buchbinder JH, Lipkoff CJ. Splenosis: Multiple peritoneal splenic implants following abdominal injury. A report of a case and review of the literature. Surgery. 1939;6:927–34.
Fremont RD, Rice TW. Splenosis: a review. South Med J. 2007;100(6):589-593.
Le Bars F, Pascot R, Ricordel C, Corbineau H, Verhoye JP, Richard De Latour B, Rouzé S. Thoracic splenosis: Case report of a symptomatic case. Chin J Traumatol. 2020;23(3):185-186.
Maddamma S, Owusu-Ansah KG, Barreiro T. Posttraumatic thoracic splenosis in a 77-year-old patient after a motor vehicle accident. Respir Med Case Rep. 2023;44:101860.
Dahal S, Koju R, Shrestha B, Karki T, Bade S. Spleen in the thorax: A case report on traumatic diaphragmatic rupture. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020;77:664-667.
Desbuquoit D, Van Hecke S, Even P, Parizel PM, van Meerbeeck JP, Snoeckx A. Pleural nodules and
mediastinal lymphadenopathy in a smoker: An unusual case report. Case Rep Oncol. 2016;9(2):488-492.
Gelsomino F, Castellani MR, Marchianò A, Duca M, Mariani P, Aliberti G, Maccauro M, Duranti L, Capri G, de Braud FG, Bianchi GV. Pitfalls in oncology: a unique case of thoracic splenosis mimicking malignancy in a patient with resected breast cancer. J Thorac Dis. 2016;8(6):E403-7.
Kosydar SR, Sanchirico PJ, Pfeiffer DC. A case of thoracoabdominal splenosis. Radiol Case Rep. 2019;15(1):7-10.
Maiti A, Cherian SV, Estrada-Y-Martin RM. Thoracic splenosis mimicking pleural mass: the importance of clinical history. QJM. 2017;110(4):241-242.
Niu Y, Liu W, Xian L, Liu T, Huang C, Yang S. Thoracic splenosis presenting as pulmonary space- occupying lesion. BMC Surg. 2018;18(1):119.
Föh B, Sieren MM, Both M, Seeger M, Günther R. Extensive intrathoracic and intraperitoneal splenosis mimicking mesothelioma: a case report. J Med Case Rep.;16(1):73.
Gleason JB, Hadeh A, Diacovo MJ, Schroeder JR. Combined intrathoracic and subcutaneous splenosis discovered 51 years after abdominal trauma. Case Rep Pulmonol. 2015;2015:969067.
Julian K, Vasekar M. Thoracic splenosis: an important consideration in oncology patients. BMJ Case Rep. 2023;16(11):e257091.
Matthews A, Chesser M, Mand J, Thomas A. A Growth opportunity: Thoracic splenosis. Am J Med. 2017;130(4):420-422.
Mehmood F, Murtaza MM, Ali S, Ashraf A. Thoracic splenosis - Anecessary differential diagnosis for pleural based nodules with history of thoracoabdominal trauma. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(3Part-I):766-769.
Rudenko MS, Motus IY, Saloutin MV. Klinicheskii sluchai posttravmaticheskogo grudnogo splenoza [Post-traumatic thoracic splenosis]. Khirurgiia (Mosk). 2021;(9):100-102.
Ali A, Sirikonda NS. Thoracic splenule (Post- traumatic autotransplantation of splenic tissue). Am J Med Sci. 2020;359(4):252-253.
Chemouni D, Laas O, Caporossi JM, Coze S, Panuel M, Chaumoitre K. A rare cause of pleural nodules: thoracic splenosis. Diagn Interv Imaging. 2014;95(11):1103-4.
Ferrer Marrero TM, Prieto-Centurion V, Jaffe HA. Thoracic splenosis: History is the key. Respir Med Case Rep. 2017;22:251-253.
Graziani T, Baldari G, Sammartano A, Scarlattei M, Migliari S, Pescarenico MG, Cidda C, Bola S, Ruffini
L. SPECT/CT with 99mTc labelled heat-denatured erythrocyte to detect thoracic and abdominal splenosis. Acta Biomed. 2020;91(4):e2020098.
Choi MG, Woo W, Chang JY, Kim BJ, Kim Y, Moon DH, Lee S. Combined intrathoracic and abdominal splenosis. Am J Case Rep. 2022;23:e937902.
Jankharia B. Thoracic splenosis: A curious case of thoracic masses. Natl Med J India. 2022;35(2):93-94.
Kim JM, Lee SM, Choi J, Lyu J, Lee MS. Two rare cases of intrathoracic splenosis and subcutaneous splenosis: Spleen scintigraphy avoided the need for invasive procedures. Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2016;50(1):76-9.
Quiroga J, García-Prim JM, Aliste C. Pleural thoracic splenosis 17 years after thoracoabdominal blunt trauma. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2014;22(5):632.
Remtulla M, Drury NE, Kaushal NA, Trotter SE, Kalkat MS. Thoracic splenosis masquerading as advanced lung cancer. Thorax. 2017;72(2):189-190.
Rodrigue PD, Fakhri AA, Lim JT. Scintigraphic diagnosis of intrathoracic splenic implants masquerading as malignancy. J Nucl Med Technol. 2016;44(4):267-268.
Arish N, Rokach A, Jarjou’i A, Bogot N, Halperen IH, Md MD, Golomb E, Izbicki G. Thoracic splenosis: The importance of history taking. Isr Med Assoc J. 2022;24(1):61-63.
Baldolli A, Coeuret S, Le Pennec V, Agostini D, Verdon R. Thoracic splenosis mimicking a pleuropneumonia: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(29):e7552.
BramosA, Stengle J. Chest wall subcutaneous splenosis after remote trauma. Surgery. 2016;159(6):1689- 1690.
Sawhney H, Gandhi D, Parmar G, Serhal M, Miller FH, Magnetta M. Post-traumatic intrathoracic splenosis and role of Tc-99m Sulfur colloid scintigraphy in confirmation. Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(9):2742- 2745.
Sönmez Ö, Kılıç B, Turna A. Thoracic splenosis mimicking pleural tumor after firearm injury: A case report with long-term follow-up. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2022;28(2):222-224.
Araújo MJ, Cunha J, Ferreira L. Thoracic splenosis, a challenging diagnosis. Arch Bronconeumol (Engl Ed). 2021;57(5):369.
Buttar SN, Ravn J. Intrathoracic splenosis without clinical evidence of diaphragmatic rupture. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019;108(4):e221-e222.
Chen J, Russo R, Yung G, Yeong C, Mansberg R. False positive metastatic disease due to combined thoracic and subcutaneous splenosis. Radiol Case Rep. 2023;19(3):872-875.
Pleša T, Ždrale S, Batinić-Škipina D, Kovačević M, Jurišić V, Lalović N, Petković N. Symptomatic isolated thoracic splenosis 11 years after abdominal trauma – Case report. Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2016;144(9-10):541- 4.
Sánchez Aguilar M, Fernández López R, Tirado Hospital JL, García Gómez FJ. Thoracoabdominal splenosis. Med Clin (Barc). 2017;148(5):242.
Tutar O, Bakan S, Samanci C, Nurili F, Sayman HB, Akman C. Thoracic splenosis after a gunshot: diffusion-weighted MRI findings. Pol J Radiol. 2015;80:89-92.
Williams K, Simpson G. Thoracic splenosis: diagnosis without invasive investigations. Respirol Case Rep. 2017;5(6):e00274.
Pessôa FM, de Melo AS, Souza AS Jr, de Souza LS, Hochhegger B, Zanetti G, Marchiori E. Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the thorax in pleural diseases: A state-of-the-art review. Lung. 2016;194(4):501-9.
Soraru J, Cardaci G. Anterior mediastinal mass due to thoracic splenosis. BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015:bcr2014208376.
Thampy R, Thupili CR. Thoracic splenosis: correct imaging diagnosis prevents invasive procedures like biopsy and thoracoscopy. BMJ Case Rep. 2018;2018:bcr2018227355.
Tokuyama K, Inoue Y, Matsunaga K, Hamaguchi Y, Sekimoto S. 99mTc-Sn-colloid SPECT/CT in thoracic splenosis after esophageal cancer surgery. Asia Ocean J Nucl Med Biol. 2024;12(1):61-64.
Tulinský L, Ihnát P, Mitták M, Guňková P, Zonča P. Intrathoracic splenosis - lesson learned: a case report. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;11(1):72.
Wojcik J, Grodzki T, Kozlowska I, Urbanski S, Kubisa
B. Usefulness of the scintigraphic assessment of the thoracic sple nosis: a case report. Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(6):456–9.
Limonard G, Joosten J, Berk Y, De Kievit I, Zomer S, Keemers M. A 37-year-old woman with an incidentally found mediastinal nodule. Chest 2008;133(6):1508– 11.
Papakonstantinou C, Christoforidis E, Vasiliadis K, Kanellos I, Zarogoulidis K. Thoracic splenosis twenty- nine years after traumatic splenectomy mimicking intrathoracic neoplasm. Eur Surg Res 2005;37(1):76– 8.
Naylor MF, Karstaedt N, Finck SJ, Burnett OL. Noninvasive methods of diagnosing thoracic splenosis. Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68(1):243–4.
McKeen S, Dharsono F. Thoracic splenosis: diagnosis of a case based on history and computerized
tomography fi ndings. Australas Radiol 2007; 51 Suppl:B246-B249.
Backhus LM, Bremner RM. Images in clinical medicine: intrathoracic splenosis after remote trauma. N Engl J Med 2006;355(17):1811.
Sarda R, Sproat I, Kurtycz DF, Hafez R. Pulmonary parenchymal splenosis. Diagn Cytopathol 2001;24(5):352–5.
Buchino JJ, Buchino JJ. Thoracic splenosis. South Med J 1998;91(11):1054–6.
Carlson BR, McQueen S, Kimbrell F, Humphreys S, Gentry HL, Esbenshade A. Thoracic splenosis: diagnosis of a case by fine needle aspiration cytology. Acta Cytol 1988;32(1):91–3.
Syed S, Zaharopoulos P. Thoracic splenosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology: a case report. Diagn Cytopathol 2001;25(5):321–4.
Cordier JF, Gamondes JP, Marx P, Heinen I, Loire R. Thoracic splenosis presenting with hemoptysis. Chest 1992;102(2): 626–7.
Tsunezuka Y, Sato H. Thoracic splenosis; from a thoracoscopic viewpoint. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1998;13(1):104–6.
Sor E, Malcova T, Scerbatiuc-Condur C, Misin I.
Hepatic splenosis. Arta Medica. 2020;74(1):42–45.
Albrecht H. Ein fall von sehr zahlreichen, uber das ganze peritoneum versprengten Nebenmilzen. Beitr Pathol Anat. 1896; 20:513–27.
Armas RR. Clinical studies with spleen specific radiolabeled agents. Semin Nucl Med 1985;15(3):260–2.
Bordlee RP, Eshaghi N, Oz O. Thoracic splenosis: MR demonstration. J Thorac Imaging 1995;10(2):146–9.
Pearson HA, Johnston D, Smith KA, Touloukian RJ. The born-again spleen: return of splenic function after splenectomy for trauma. N Engl J Med 1978;298(25):1389–92.
Zoli G, Corazza GR, Wood S, Bartoli R, Gasbarrini G, Far thing MJ. Impaired splenic function and tuftsin deficiency in patients with intestinal failure on long term intravenous nutrition. Gut 1998;43(6):759–62.
Downloads
Published
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Medical Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
