Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic vascular tumors: report of two cases

We report 2 cases of splenic vascular tumors that were successfully treated by hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy. Two patients, a 41-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were admitted to our department for investigation of a splenic tumor. After ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, we suspected that the masses were hemangioma or inflammatory pseudotumor in the spleen. However, we preoperatively could not rule out the possibility of a malignant neoplasm because they each had previously undergone surgical treatment, one for cervical cancer of the uterus and the other for testicular seminoma. Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy was safely performed for the diagnosis and treatment of the splenic tumors. A histologic diagnosis was venous hemangioma and littoral cell angioma, respectively. Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy may be a good indication for splenic vascular tumors that are difficult to diagnose preoperatively whether they are malignant or benign.