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Splenic involvement in endemic (murine) typhus: CT findings

R Radin1, I A Hirbawi, R W Henderson

  • 1Department of Radiology, Room 3550, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, 1200 North State Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.

Abdominal Imaging
|June 30, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Murine typhus, a rickettsial infection endemic in the US, can cause serious vascular issues. A US patient with this infection developed splenic pseudoaneurysms, infarcts, and hemorrhage, highlighting potential complications.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Murine typhus is a significant rickettsial infection in parts of the United States, particularly Texas and California.
  • The clinical presentation of murine typhus is primarily attributed to vasculitis, affecting blood vessels throughout the body.

Observation:

  • A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed on a patient diagnosed with murine typhus acquired within the United States.
  • The CT imaging revealed specific vascular abnormalities within the spleen.

Findings:

  • The patient exhibited intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms, which are abnormal bulges in the spleen's blood vessels.
  • Evidence of splenic infarcts (tissue death due to lack of blood supply) and hemorrhage (bleeding) within the spleen were also observed.

Implications:

  • These findings underscore the potential for severe vascular complications, including splenic damage, in cases of murine typhus.
  • Early recognition and advanced imaging like CT are crucial for diagnosing and managing these serious manifestations of rickettsial infections.

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