Cysts of the spleen as a pathological entity were first recorded by Andral in 1829. The sparse, relevant literature since then attests to the fact that they are unusual, and a review of the literature by Bell, in 1951, revealed that a total of only 188 had been recorded.
The purpose of this report is to review briefly the pertinent literature and to present a case of post-traumatic splenic cyst, one of unusual size and presenting many problems in differential diagnosis.
Cystic tumors of the spleen may be classified as follows:
True cysts—lined by specific secreting membrane
Epithelial
1. Dermoid
2. Epidermoid
Endothelial
1. Lymphangioma
2. Hemangioma
3. Polycystic disease
4. Some serous cysts
Parasitic—lined by protoplasmic matrix containing numerous nuclei
1. Hydatid cyst caused by Echinococcus
False cysts—no specific secreting lining
A. Hemorrhagic
B. Serous
C. Inflammatory
1. Acute necrosis in infection
2. Chronic tuberculosis
D. Degenerative liquefaction of