[Cystic lymphangioma of the spleen (author's transl)]

A rare form of true non-parasitic cysts of the spleen, cystic lymphangiomas are seen as round calcified images in the left hypochondrium. Bidimensional ultrasonography has considerably simplified the diagnosis of splenic cysts, but modern investigations, which can usually eliminate the presence of hydatid cysts in the spleen, cannot differentiate the various types of non-parasitic cysts. Diagnosis of cystic lymphangiomas, currently made after pathological examinations, can be assisted by needle-puncture aspiration guided by ultrasonography, and the role of this investigatory method in diagnosis and therapy is discussed. The only radical treatment for splenic cysts is splenectomy, which should be conducted routinely because of the difficulty of pre-operative diagnosis and the high risk of severe complications.