Scintigraphic Diagnosis of Intrathoracic Splenic Implants Post Splenectomy for Gunshot Wound

Abstract

After a significant trauma to the spleen, small viable splenic fragments may exist in the peritoneal cavity, however less commonly they may be located in the thorax. Thus, the appearance of splenules within the thorax on CT imaging can be easily mistaken for malignancy and lead to unnecessary intervention. Here, we present a case of multiple pulmonary masses initially presumed to be malignancy leading to CT guided biopsy that were eventually imaged using 99mTc-labeled sulfur colloid scinitigraphy and confirmed to be thoracic splenules.