Laparoscopic unroofing of a large pseudocyst of the spleen: report of a case.

The treatment of splenic cysts remains controversial. A 25-year-old Japanese woman with a 10-cm-long abdominal mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen complained of mild, dull pain. A huge splenic cyst was confirmed on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst wall was adherent to the splenic parenchyma to approximately 30% of its maximum diameter, calculated with magnetic resonance imaging. Laparoscopic unroofing of the cyst was performed. After the great omentum adhering to the cystic wall of the spleen was dissected, branches from the splenic hilar vessels were clipped. Histological examination of the cyst revealed pseudocyst of the spleen. The postoperative course was uneventful. Laparoscopic unroofing is a safe surgical procedure for patients with symptomatic pseudocyst of the spleen.