CTICasesThoracic Splenosis
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Imaging findings
Chest radiograph showed subtle potential rib fractures and sub-pleural or pleural lesions. CT revealed multiple pleural nodules extending through what appeared to be a diaphragmatic injury, along with an absence of the spleen. PET/CT confirmed that these pleural nodules demonstrated metabolic activity and attenuation characteristic of splenic tissue.
Key takeaways
This case beautifully illustrates splenosis, a condition where splenic tissue auto-implants ectopically, typically following traumatic splenic rupture and presenting as peritoneal or pleural nodules. While mimicking metastatic disease on initial assessment, the characteristic attenuation on CT and uptake pattern on PET/CT, combined with the history of trauma and asplenia, confirm the diagnosis.
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