[Conservative surgery in pseudocysts of the spleen]

The authors report two cases of pseudocysts of the spleen treated by conservative surgery. Splenic cysts, often producing few or no symptoms, are increasingly frequently discovered on ultrasound. Surgical treatment is required because of the risk of complications. As in the case of trauma, it is recommended to preserve healthy splenic parenchyma whenever possible and especially in young subjects, by performing either a partial splenectomy or cystectomy. However, this conservative attitude should not lead to an excessive operative risk, in particular of hemorrhage. Partial cystectomy, a procedure which is sufficient for splenic pseudocysts, would seem to be the treatment of choice for these lesions, as it is conservative and of little danger regardless of the anatomical conditions.