Isolated spleen recurrence in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

Exp Ther Med. 2015 Aug;10(2):733-736. doi: 10.3892/etm.2015.2524. Epub 2015 May 27.

Abstract

Spleen metastasis is extremely rare in patients with lung cancer. However, recent improvements in imaging modalities may enable the antemortem diagnosis of spleen metastasis. The present study reports the case of a female patient with lung adenocarcinoma and spleen metastasis. The patient developed isolated spleen metastasis in the postoperative course. This rare metastasis was detected in a follow-up abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan without any symptoms, and was confirmed by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT scan. Although very rare, chest physicians and thoracic surgeons should be alert to the possibility of spleen metastasis development when evaluating the follow-up abdominal CT scan. FDG-PET/CT scanning and an interventional approach should be considered to clarify the possibility of spleen metastasis.

Keywords: fluorodeoxyglucose-positon emission tomography; lung cancer; spleen metastasis.