[Congenital intrathoracic accessory spleen: a case report]

Area of Science:

• Anatomical anomalies
• Radiology
• Congenital disorders

Background:

• Accessory spleen is a rare condition, found in about 10% of individuals.
• Most commonly located near the spleen, but can occur in various abdominal, pelvic, retroperitoneal, or thoracic locations.
• Congenital accessory spleen is extremely rare, with limited documented cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of congenital intrathoracic accessory spleen.
• To discuss the diagnostic difficulties associated with this anomaly.
• To emphasize the importance of considering rare diagnoses in challenging imaging cases.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 72-year-old patient.
• Review of medical literature on congenital accessory spleen.
• Discussion of diagnostic imaging, specifically Computed Tomography (CT).

Main Results:

• A rare case of congenital intrathoracic accessory spleen was identified in a 72-year-old patient.
• Computed Tomography (CT) imaging presented challenges in differentiating the accessory spleen from malignant tumors.
• The case underscores the rarity and diagnostic complexity of congenital intrathoracic accessory spleen.

Conclusions:

• Congenital intrathoracic accessory spleen is an exceedingly rare condition.
• Accurate diagnosis can be challenging, especially when distinguishing from neoplastic lesions via CT.
• This case contributes to the limited literature and highlights diagnostic considerations for rare splenic anomalies.