Solitary Splenic Lesions

Solitary splenic lesions are unusual. A differential diagnosis can be organized around their basic imaging appearance as either predominantly cystic or solid. Other imaging characteristics, including vascular enhancement and activity on Tc-99m sulfur colloid scan, as well as clinical history may narrow the diagnostic possibilities. Cystic lesions include post-traumatic, inflammatory and infectious pseudocysts, congenital cysts, lymphangiomas and cystic metastasis. Solid lesions include both nonneoplastic lesions such as splenic hamartoma, benign tumors such as hemangioma and malignant masses including lymphoma and angiosarcoma. Percutaneous biopsy may be used for histologic diagnosis when required.