RT Journal
A1 Maglione T, Yong S, Velankar M, Brems J
T1 IMage of the month—quiz case
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2009
FD July 20
VO 144
IS 7
SP 691
OP 692
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2009.119-a
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2009.119-a
AB 
A 50-year-old man with a history of chronic hepatitis C underwent a surveillance liver computed tomography (CT) monitoring for a hepatoma, which incidentally revealed a new splenic lesion that proceeded to increase in size from 2.4 × 2.09 cm to 4.6 × 3.7 cm over a series of 3 CT scans in a 6-month period (Figure 1). Concomitantly, there was an increase in his α-fetoprotein level from 46.7 ng/mL to 533.7 ng/mL (to convert to micrograms per liter, multiply by 1.0) over a 16-month period. Because of a continuing rise in α-fetoprotein level, along with CT images showing an increase in size of the splenic lesion, the decision for splenectomy was agreed on with the patient. Intraoperative ultrasonography results were negative for focal liver lesions but revealed a complex hypoechoic lesion in a cephalad posterior aspect of the spleen, measuring approximately 4 cm in diameter. The resected spleen grossly contained a pale tan, firm, multinodular tumor measuring 4.4 × 4.3 × 3.8 cm. Microscopically, sections of the spleen showed involvement by neoplasm composed of medium to large cells along with extensive areas of necrosis (Figure 2). Immunohistochemical stains showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for CD20, CD10, and Bcl-6 and were negative for CD3, Bcl-2, Bcl-1, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, CD34, synaptophysin, pan keratin, placental alkaline phosphatase, chromogranin, and α-fetoprotein. The Ki-67 proliferation fraction was 80% to 90%, indicating a high-grade nature of the mass.