[Splenic neoplasms]

Carcinomas of the spleen are rare, whether primary or secondary. Two patients are described, one with a primary angiosarcoma. In this patient the first symptom was abdominal pain, caused by spontaneous rupture of the spleen. The other case was a woman with carcinoma of the breast which metastasized to the spleen. Both underwent splenectomy and adjuvant oncological treatment. Angiosarcomas constitute less than 1% of all sarcomas. Only about 60 cases of angiosarcomas in the spleen have been reported in the world literature. Spontaneous rupture of the spleen occurred in 30% of these cases. The prognosis for both untreated and treated splenic angiosarcomas is poor. Virtually all malignant tumours have been shown to metastasize to the spleen, most frequently from primary tumours localised to the breast, lung or ovary. Neoplasm should be considered for patients with splenomegaly having no apparent cause.