Masses in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen present an interesting problem in differential diagnosis. To be considered also are tumors of the stomach, pancreas, colon, and kidney. Retroperitoneal lymphomas, teratomas, and sarcomas may present as a mass in this area. Pseudocysts of the pancreas may also occur in this area. Cysts of the spleen are rare.
Andral (cited by Fowler2) recorded the first splenic cyst in 1829. Since then over 200 cases have been reported. Of these, 40 have been calcified.1 To give an idea of the rarity of this disease, Pemberton3 in 1940 reviewed 800 splenectomies done at Mayo Clinic and found only a 5% incidence. At Ohio State University, 934 splenectomies have been performed since 1940. Only two cysts have been reported. Both were pseudocysts, and one was calcified. The calcified cyst was the subject of the present article.
Fowler2 in a collective