Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen, a rare cause for splenectomy: Two case reports

Abstract

Background: Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) is a rare benign disease of the spleen with unknown origin. Clinical symptoms are inhomogeneous, and suspicious splenic lesion often found incidentally, leading to splenectomy, as malignancy cannot securely be ruled out. Diagnosis is made histologically after resection.

Case summary: Two cases of German, white, non-smoking, and non-drinking patients of normal weight are presented. The first one is a 26-year-old man without medical history who was exhibiting an undesired weight loss of 10 kg and recurring vomiting for about 18 mo. The second one is a 65-year-old woman with hypertension who had previously undergone gynecological surgery, suffering from a lasting feeling of abdominal fullness. Both showed radiologically an inhomogeneous splenic lesion leading to splenectomy approximately 6 and 9 wk after surgical presentation. Both diagnoses of SANT were made histologically. Follow-up went well, and both were treated according to the recommendation for asplenic patients.

Conclusion: SANT is a rare cause of splenectomy and an incidental histological finding. Further research should focus on clinical and radiological diagnosis of SANT as well as on treatment of patients with asymptomatic and small findings.

Keywords: Abdominal discomfort; Case report; Gastrointestinal dysfunction; Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation; Spleen; Splenectomy.