Giant splenic artery aneurysm presenting as unusual cause of obstructive jaundice

Giant splenic aneurysms larger than 8 cm (GSAA) are rare and often asymptomatic but present an increased risk of dramatic rupture, a life-threatening complication. The management of these aneurysms is especially challenging. We probably report the first case of GSAA revealed by clinical mechanical jaundice due to direct compression of the biliary tree. The lesion was diagnosed during abdominal ultrasound in a 68-year-old patient but determination of the specific splenic origin and extensive anatomic preoperative evaluation were achieved by MDCT. The case illustrates the new high quality performances of MDCT in the evaluation of complex vascular abdominal situations and is presented with a brief review of the relevant literature.