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Updated: May 28, 2026
11:17
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
Thoracic splenosis masquerading as bronchial cancer
Prativa Jayasekera1, Pradesh Kumar, Siobhan Gill
1Portsmouth NHS Trust, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|October 20, 2011
Summary
Thoracic splenosis, a rare condition, can mimic lung nodules on CT scans in patients with a history of abdominal trauma. Radionuclide scans can confirm this benign diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary cancer investigations.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Abdominal Surgery
Background:
- A 57-year-old woman presented with small bowel obstruction, complicated by pulmonary embolism.
- Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram revealed indeterminate pulmonary nodules, raising suspicion for malignancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of pulmonary nodules in a patient with a history of extensive thoracoabdominal trauma.
- To highlight thoracic splenosis as a differential diagnosis for pulmonary nodules.
Main Methods:
- Review of patient's past medical history, including a remote road traffic collision with laparotomy, nephrectomy, splenectomy, and diaphragmatic repair.
- Radiological surveillance with serial chest CT scans.
- Consideration of radionuclide studies (Tc(99m) sulfur colloid or heat-damaged red cell scans) for diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Follow-up CT scans showed stable pulmonary nodules.
- The imaging findings were deemed most consistent with thoracic splenosis.
Conclusions:
- Thoracic splenosis should be considered in patients with pulmonary nodules and a history of thoracoabdominal trauma.
- Radionuclide imaging can confirm thoracic splenosis, reassuring patients and clinicians and preventing unnecessary interventions.
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