[Splenosis mimicking local recurrence after radical nephrectomy: a report of two cases]

Splenosis is autotransplantation of splenic tissue and usually follow traumatic or surgical rupture of the spleen. We report two cases of splenosis which presented as a local recurrence after radical nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The patients were a 65- and a 71-year-old male, who had been operated for RCC including splenectomy because of disrupture of the splenic capsule 8 and 9 years earlier respectively. In both cases, follow up computed tomographic scans showed small nodules under the left diaphragm. Although we initially suspected local recurrence, we considered the possibility of splenosis. Both patients underwent technetium-99m Sn colloid scans and were diagnosed with splenosis successfully. Therefore, we could avoid unnecessary surgical explorations.