THORACIC SPLENOSIS

Thoracic splenosis is rare, with fewer than two dozen reported cases. Patients uniformly have a history of splenectomy with combined abdomin al and thoracic trauma. Clinical signs and symptoms are usually absent , and the condition is most often discovered on routine chest radiogra phy. The interval between trauma and clinical discovery has ranged fro m 2.7 to 42 years. There is no documented benefit to removal of the sp lenic nodules unless the patient is symptomatic.