Splenic abscess as an incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient undergoing splenectomy: Case report

Abstract

Splenic abscess is a rare condition typically associated with immunosuppression, disseminated infection, or trauma. This report describes an atypical case in a 48-year-old female patient with no relevant medical history, who underwent splenectomy for a suspected splenic tumor, with an incidental finding of a splenic abscess. The aim of this study was to document the unusual clinical presentation and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic approach. This is an observational, descriptive case report. The patient presented with mild abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant, without systemic symptoms or laboratory abnormalities. Imaging revealed a hypodense, non-enhancing splenic lesion suggestive of lymphangioma. Elective splenectomy was performed, and histopathology revealed a splenic abscess with chronic granulomatous inflammation and foreign-body-type giant cells. Postoperative evolution was favorable. This case highlights the need to include splenic abscess in the differential diagnosis of splenic lesions, even in asymptomatic, immunocompetent patients. Splenectomy proved to be an effective tool for both diagnosis and treatment. The report emphasizes how documenting atypical presentations contributes to the clinical understanding of rare entities and can help guide future research.