Splenic marginal cell lymphoma (SMZL): report of its presentation with spontaneous rupture of the spleen

Rupture of the spleen is a potentially life-threatening condition, which most often occurs secondary to abdominal trauma. Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is a much rarer event, usually occurring secondary to infections and less frequently secondary to haematological malignancies causing massive splenomegaly. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman who presented in the emergency department with acute abdominal and back pain and no history of trauma, with a CT scan diagnosis of splenic rupture. Splenectomy was performed and the histological examination of the specimen revealed splenic marginal cell lymphoma (SMZL), which is classified under the non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) and accounts for <1% of NHL. There is only one previously reported case of spontaneous splenic rupture SMZL and this is the first recorded case of spontaneous splenic rupture in a patient without massive splenomegaly.