Splenic infarction: 10 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the clinical presentation of splenic infarction.

METHODS: A retrospective examination of files during a 10-year period was conducted. Only computed tomography-proven diagnoses of splenic infarction were included. Signs, symptoms, medical history, and results of investigation were recorded.

RESULTS: We found 49 episodes of acute splenic infarction. Abdominal or left flank pain was the most common symptoms (80%), and left upper quadrant tenderness was the most common sign (35%). Splenic infarction was the presenting symptom of underlying disease in 16.6% of the patients. Based on the computed tomography results, ultrasound was diagnostic only in 18% of patients. There was no in-hospital mortality or serious complications.

DISCUSSION: We present, to the best of our knowledge, the largest series of patients with splenic infarction diagnosed on clinical and radiological grounds. Awareness of the diagnostic possibility of splenic infarction in a patient with unexplained abdominal pain is important because it can be the presenting symptom of potentially fatal diseases.