Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix metastatic to the spleen--case report

Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix metastatic to the spleen is an uncommon occurrence which has only been reported in small numbers in autopsy series. We present a case of a 47-year-old patient with a Stage IIb carcinoma of the cervix, treated with radiotherapy in 1990. Four years after completion of primary treatment she presented with a voluminous left hypochondrium and epigastrium mass. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and a splenic cyst 19 cm in diameter was found. The pathological examination revealed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in the spleen. Peritoneal washings were positive for malignant cells, due to incidental rupture of the cyst capsule. The patient received six courses of chemotherapy with a palliative intent and is alive, without further evidence of disease, 15 months posttreatment. To our knowledge this is the only case reported in the literature of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix metastatic to the spleen, diagnosed clinically as the only site of distant spread.