Splenic rupture in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

A case of pathologic splenic rupture as the initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia M2

A pathologic splenic rupture refers to a rupture without trauma. A splenic rupture as the initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia is extremely rare. In this study, we described a rare case of acute myeloid leukemia presenting principally as an acute abdomen due to a pathologic splenic rupture in a 35-year old male patient. We can assert that a pathologic splenic rupture in hematologic diseases is a potentially life-threatening complication, which necessitates immediate operative intervention. Any such patient complaining about left upper abdominal tenderness should be closely observed, and further diagnostic investigations (ultrasonograph of the abdomen, abdominal CT scan) should be initiated in order to rule out a splenic rupture. The oncologist should be aware of this rare initial presentation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M2, as the condition generally necessitates a prompt splenectomy.

Spontaneous (pathological) splenic rupture in a blastic variant of mantle cell lymphoma: a case report and literature review

Spontaneous (pathological) splenic rupture (SPSR) in hematological malignancies is rare. This report describes a 71-year-old male diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma-blastic variant (MCL-BV) who experienced an SPSR a few days before the initial diagnosis. The patient underwent a splenectomy and recovered without incident. Partial remission was seen following several cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone). However, relapse was rapid, with leukemic meningitis occurring several months later. It was successfully treated by intrathecal methotrexate and cranial spinal radiation. A progressive lymphocytosis developed, which responded to rituximab. Lymphadenopathy and skin involvement ensued, followed by pneumonia and death. The literature on SPSR in patients with MCL-BV and other lymphoproliferative disorders showed similar clinical and postoperative findings. Clinical presentation included Kehr's sign and acute abdominal pain. Postoperative findings included blood in the peritoneal cavity, multiple splenic hematomas, splenic infarcts, and splenic necrosis. Most strikingly, the majority of the patients reviewed appeared to have undergone some type of blastic transformation. One or any combination of these findings that has been noted above in addition to a bleeding diathesis could be the foundation to SPSR. We recommend consideration of splenic rupture in patients with a lymphoproliferative disorder coupled with rapid progression of marked or massive splenomegaly.