[Splenic cyst--a rare cause of epigastric expansion]

Cysts are rare lesions of the spleen, and may be divided into parasitic and non-parasitic types. After the parasitic cysts, the second most frequent group is the (secondary) posttraumatic form of non-parasitic cysts. The primary form (congenital and neoplastic) of the latter is the least frequent. Whereas splenectomy was the treatment of choice for lienal cysts until a few years ago, a change has occurred in the techniques of splenic salvage. Against the background of a case report of a primary epidermoid cyst the etiology, diagnostic measures, and the recent developments in conserving spleen surgery are discussed.