Primary splenic malignant lymphoma mimicking metastasis of rectosigmoid cancer: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Primary splenic malignant lymphoma is quite a rare disease, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced rectosigmoid cancer with liver and splenic metastases, for which he underwent single-incision laparoscopic high anterior resection for the primary rectosigmoid cancer. After chemotherapy, he underwent laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy and open partial hepatectomy of segment 3 and segment 5/6 of the liver. The resected specimen of the spleen showed primary splenic malignant lymphoma. DISCUSSION: A diagnosis of primary splenic malignant lymphoma seems to be made only occasionally at splenectomy. Patients with primary splenic malignant lymphoma treated by curative resection at an early clinical stage have a more favorable prognosis. Laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy is useful for reducing surgical invasiveness. CONCLUSION: Primary splenic malignant lymphoma should be included among the differential diagnoses of splenic tumors in patients with colorectal cancer with multiple metastases. Curative resection might be a therapeutic option for the treatment of primary splenic malignant lymphoma. Laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy is a useful strategy for reducing surgical invasiveness.