Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen: a case report

SANT is a rare, non-lymphoid, benign entity, originating from the red pulp of the spleen. It is characterized by the presence of vascular nodules surrounded by a stroma of collagen fibers. It was introduced as a distinct disease entity by Martel et al in 2004, after the histopathological examination of 25 cases. Symptoms are unspecific, and in most cases, it is incidentally diagnosed, mostly in patients who undergo imaging for other underlying conditions. Moreover, radiological findings are usually inconclusive, and a definite diagnosis is established through histopathological examination. We herein report the case of a 76-year-old female diagnosed with stage I rectal cancer who was subsequently diagnosed with a splenic lesion after a Computed Tomography (CT) scan that was performed for follow-up purposes. Different imaging modalities were employed for further assessment; however, findings were inconclusive and the possibility of metastatic disease could not be excluded. The patient was referred for splenectomy and the diagnosis of SANT was established through histopathological examination.