EPIDERMOID CYSTS OF THE SPLEEN

Primary nonparasitic splenic cysts are very rare. Clinical manifestati ons vary but are often not very typical. Ultrasound and computed tomog raphy are of use for establishing diagnosis. PL microscopic examinatio n of the surgical specimen is the only way to make the diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst. The histological characteristic of an epidermoid cys t is the presence of an epidermoid epithelial cyst lining of the inner surface. Treatment requires surgery and is necessary to prevent serio us complications. Spleen saving surgical procedures are advocated. We present two cases of young patients with a large epidermoid cyst of th e spleen who were operated on. On one patient, we had to perform a spl enectomy because of the size and central localization of the cyst with compression of the splenic pedicle. On the other patient we managed t o perform a partial splenectomy.