Spontaneous rupture of the normal spleen; review of the literature and report of one case.

Abstract

Up to 1957 there have been reported in the literature 40 cases of nontraumatic rupture of the normal spleen. The purpose of this paper is to report an additional case and to review the literature. The causes of rupture of the spleen may be classified as follows: 1. Nontraumatic rupture of the normal spleen. This is uncommon. 2. Traumatic rupture of the normal spleen. This trauma may occur in ( a ) physiologic states, such as pregnancy, parturition, coitus, and straining at stool; ( b ) nonpenetrating injuries; ( c ) penetrating wounds, and ( d ) intraabdominal trauma associated with catastrophic abdominal events, such as acute pancreatitis or a ruptured viscus. 3. Spontaneous rupture of a diseased spleen, as in leukemia, malaria, typhoid, portal thrombosis, Banti's disease, infectious mononucleosis, splenic infarct, puerperal sepsis, relapsing fever, pneumonia, and vascular disease of the spleen or its pedicle. 4. Traumatic rupture of a diseased spleen. This may occur with less