True Spontaneous Splenic Rupture Mimicking Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Case Report

Spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) is an uncommon and potentially life-threatening cause of acute abdominal pain, often linked to underlying pathology. Because its presentation can mimic more common conditions, diagnosis is frequently delayed. We report a case from a resource-limited setting where SSR initially mimicked peptic ulcer disease, underscoring diagnostic challenges.

A 57-year-old Ethiopian woman with chronic reflux presented after 5 days of severe epigastric pain radiating to the left shoulder, with nausea and vomiting but no trauma or fever. Initial labs showed mild anemia. Abdominal examination revealed localized epigastric tenderness without peritonism. The initial working diagnosis was peptic ulcer disease; proton pump inhibitors were started, and endoscopy was unavailable. After 2 days, she developed hypotension and left upper quadrant pain. Bedside ultrasound (FAST) showed free intraperitoneal fluid, and contrast CT confirmed a ruptured spleen with hemoperitoneum.

The patient underwent emergency laparotomy, which found a shattered spleen and ~3.5 L of intra-abdominal blood; a splenectomy was performed. She required an intraoperative transfusion and was stabilized. Histopathology confirmed a normal spleen with preserved architecture, supporting a diagnosis of idiopathic rupture possibly related to transient microvascular congestion. Postoperatively, she recovered uneventfully and was discharged on postoperative day 5. She received the vaccinations needed and was counseled about infection risk.

This case illustrates that true spontaneous rupture can occur in a histologically normal spleen and may mimic peptic ulcer disease in presentation. Recognizing atypical features and ensuring timely imaging are crucial, especially in resource-limited settings where delayed diagnosis increases mortality.