Splenosis

Splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue that typically occurs after traumatic rupture of the spleen. These splenic implants are often numerous and found within the peritoneal cavity, though extra-abdominal splenosis can also happen. They are usually clinically insignificant and discovered incidentally during autopsies or abdominal surgeries, unrelated to the initial splenic trauma or splenectomy. The implants can still function, and if a hematologic disease recurs after spleen removal, clinicians should consider splenosis. The differential diagnosis includes accessory spleens, endometriosis, hemangiomas, and metastatic cancer. We present a case of a patient who underwent splenectomy 15 years ago due to a car accident and subsequently had laparoscopic cholecystectomy.