Case report of a littoral cell angioma of the spleen and accessory spleens: A benign vascular tumour

INTRODUCTION: Littoral- cell angioma (LCA) is a rare benign vascular tumour of the spleen. There have been less then 80 cases reported in the literature. Recent reports have described it to be a malignant lesion with congenital and immunologic associations. We report a case of LCA of the spleen. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 52 -year-old male patient was admitted to hospital with a three month duration of intermittent upper abdominal pain and nausea. Imaging studies, including computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), showed multiple lesions in the spleen as well as in the accessory spleens. An open splenectomy was performed and his post-operative recovery was uneventful. DISCUSSION: Littoral cell angioma of the spleen is a benign vascular tumour that has been infrequently reported in the English literature. While it does have malignant potential, the vast majority are benign. Diagnosis depends on the expression of endothelial markers like CD31 and histiocytic markers like CD68.Malignant potential is enhanced by the presence of splenomegaly as well. CONCLUSION: This rare condition is made even more rare by the presence of the tumour in the two accessory spleens as well.