Splenectomy for splenic metastasis from carcinoma of colon

An 81-year-old woman with carcinoma of the colon had a normal liver-spleen radiocolloid image at the time of surgery. Two years later, a defect was noted in the spleen on a follow-up radiocolloid study. A repeat examination showed that the mass was increasing in size. An abdominal CT examination also revealed an intrasplenic mass with spring of the liver. After splenectomy for a metastatic carcinoma of the colon, the patient has survived for over a year without symptoms referable to tumor spread. Mention is made of the apparent splenic "immunity" from metastases.