Atraumatic Splenic Rupture is a Rare Complication of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Atraumatic Splenic Rupture (ASR) is a rare but life-threatening clinicopathological phenomenon with limited information on patient features, occurrence, or etiology. Case presentation: A 48-year-old man with no history of the underlying disease presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. He was admitted with leukocytosis 145x103/µl, hemoglobin 6.4 g/dl, and platelets 15x103/µl, ESR 89mm/h, D-Dimer 1043ng/FEU ml. Sputum test (PCR) ruled out SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspiration/biopsy, AML was diagnosed for the patient. On the third day of hospitalization, the patient's abdominal pain intensifies. Ultrasound revealed medium free fluid inside the abdomen and pelvis. The patient was transferred to the operating room to undergo an emergency laparotomy. There was a large hematoma in the spleen with a rupture in its posterior surface. Splenectomy was performed. The histopathological study of the spleen showed leukemic involvement, capsular ruptures, and subcapsular hematomas. Discussion: ASR is an uncommon and lethal complication that is seen in infectious diseases (mainly mononucleosis) and hematological diseases (mainly malignant homeopathies) in more than half of cases. Mortality is approximately around 20%. Some deaths occur before the diagnosis is confirmed, while others occur after surgery, as a result of delayed management and poor patient status. Conclusion: ASR can occur for a variety of reasons, including non-traumatic or idiopathic factors. In the absence of significant trauma, emergency physicians should be aware that splenic rupture can occur. ASR is more likely to present with symptoms similar to the underlying disease.