Laparoscopic Resection of an Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Splenic Sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Splenic tumors are rare. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the spleen is one of the least common primary splenic tumors. Review of the literature shows that a laparoscopic resection has never been tried. METHOD: We discuss the case of a 76-year-old man with a 7-cm MFH in the spleen and present a review of splenic sarcomas. RESULTS: The patient underwent a successful laparoscopic splenectomy; pathology revealed a rare undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the spleen. A review of the international literature identified 15 additional cases of primary splenic MFH. Survival was rarely longer than 15 months. CONCLUSION: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the spleen is an exceedingly rare tumor with a poor prognosis. In experienced hands, laparoscopic splenectomy is a feasible operative choice for primary splenic sarcoma.