Pitfall of the accessory spleen

Two patients, one with insulinoma and one with Gushing's syndrome, are pres ented. Biochemical evaluation readily suggested the correct diagnosis. Duri ng radiologic imaging, the anatomic abnormality giving rise to these diseas es, i.e. a pancreatic islet cell tumor, and an adrenal adenoma, at first we re mistakenly interpreted as an accessory spleen on the basis of specific c omputed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging appearances. The insulino ma was identified as such during laparotomy, whereas additional jodo-choles terol scintigraphy revealed the real nature of the lesion in the patient wi th Gushing's syndrome. Both patients were operated successfully. (C) 2000 E lsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.