Primary splenic malignant lymphoma mimicking metastasis of rectosigmoid cancer: A case report

INTRODUCTION Primary splenic malignant lymphoma is quite a rare disease, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. CASE PRESENTATION An 80-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced rectosigmoid cancer with liver and splenic metastases, for which he underwent single-incision laparoscopic high anterior resection for the primary rectosigmoid cancer. After chemotherapy, he underwent laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy and open partial hepatectomy of segment 3 and segment 5/6 of the liver. The resected specimen of the spleen showed primary splenic malignant lymphoma. DISCUSSION A diagnosis of primary splenic malignant lymphoma seems to be made only occasionally at splenectomy. Patients with primary splenic malignant lymphoma treated by curative resection at an early clinical stage have a more favorable prognosis. Laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy is useful for reducing surgical invasiveness. CONCLUSION Primary splenic malignant lymphoma should be included among the differential diagnoses of splenic tumors in patients with colorectal cancer with multiple metastases. Curative resection might be a therapeutic option for the treatment of primary splenic malignant lymphoma. Laparoscopy-assisted splenectomy is a useful strategy for reducing surgical invasiveness.