Spontaneous rupture of a normal spleen successfully treated with elective laparoscopic splenectomy: a case report

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Although commonly associated with infections or malignancies, rupture of a normal spleen is extremely rare, and emergency surgery remains the usual management approach. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of a normal spleen successfully treated with elective laparoscopic splenectomy. A 47-year-old man presented with sudden-onset left upper-quadrant abdominal pain and dizziness. Imaging studies revealed splenic rupture without any evidence of trauma or underlying conditions. After initial non-operative management, laparoscopic splenectomy was performed due to the risk of rebleeding. Pathological examination of the excised spleen revealed no underlying cause, and the patient was diagnosed with spontaneous rupture of a normal spleen. A PubMed-based literature review identified only a few comparable cases over the past 5 years, most treated with emergency surgery. Our case indicates that non-operative management followed by elective surgery may be feasible in selected cases.