Haemangio-endothelioma of the spleen and liver.

With the exception of the reticuloses, primary malignant tumours arising in the spleen are rare, but from time to time examples have been reported which appear to be angioblastic in character and in some cases seem to cause metastases in the liver and elsewhere (Langhans, 1879; Theile, 1904; Jores, 1908; Dowd, 1915; Wright, 1928; Schlopsnies, 1929; Paine, 193 1; De Navasquez, 1936; Wright, 1949; Abrahams and Hughes, 1952). Although most authorities are agreed that malignant angioblastic tumours do occasionally occur, there is considerable doubt as to whether the tumours which appear to have arisen in the spleen are examples of true angioblastic malignant tumours or whether they represent multifocal systemic lesions (Willis, 1948). The case to be described appears to fall into this group and is reported because of its unusual interest, especially in regard to the age of the patient, and in the hope that eventually a true evaluation of these tumours may be forthcoming.