Splenic cystic lesions are an uncommon finding in clinical practice. Their presentation can vary from an asymptomatic to an acutely ill patient with symptoms of acute abdomen. The learning objective is to present the reader the clinical and radiological findings of splenic cystic lesions and their complications.

A large autopsy study showed that the incidence of splenic cysts is 0.07% [1]. The last well accepted classification of splenic cystic lesions is by Morgenstern who first divided them into parasitic and non-parasitic splenic cystic lesions [2]. The non-parasitic are then classified into congenital,neoplastic, traumatic and degenerative cystic lesions, each having a specific etiopathogenesis and patohistological findings. Most splenic cystic lesions are asymptomatic in nature and present only when they are large enough to cause mass symptoms. On the other hand, they can present...

1 Parasitic etiology 1.1 Hydatid splenic cyst Hydatid disease is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the larval stage of theEchinococcustapeworm. The outter layer of the hydatid cyst, the pericyst, is composed of the host cells presenting a dense, fibrous protective layer. It is followed by the middle laminated membrane, the ectocyst, and the inner germinal layer, the endocyst, where the parasite is produced[3]. The most common location of hydatid lesions is the liver, followed by the lungs and the spleen, where they most commonly migrate...

Splenic cystic lesions are uncommon but present a wide spectrum of pathogenic entitites with common imaging appearances but different clinical presentations. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is neccessary in order to reliably set the diagnosis and determine appropriate treatment. Eventhough the most commonly met splenic cystic lesions are benign and need no treatment, malignancy or acute life threatening complications are possible.

1.Robbins F, Yellin A, Lingua R, Craig J, Turrill F, Mikkelsen W. Splenic epidermoid cysts. Ann Surg. 1978; 187(3): p. 231-235. 2.Morgenstern L. Nonparasitic splenic cysts: pathogenesis, classification, and treatment. J Am Coll Surg. 2002; 194(3): p. 306-314. 3.Pedrosa I, Saíz A, Arrazola J, Ferreirós J, Pedrosa C. Hydatid disease: radiologic and pathologic features and complications. Radiographics. 2000; 20(3): p. 795-817. 4.Franquet T, Montes M, Lecumberri F, Esparza J, Bescos J. Hydatid disease of the spleen: imaging findings in nine patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol....