Hemangioma of the Spleen

PRIMARY tumors of the spleen are rare and with the exception of malignant lymphoma are seldom considered in the differential diagnosis of splenomegaly. Such tumors may be either cystic or solid, and the cystic variety, composed mostly of epidermoid cysts, has occurred with slightly greater frequency. 1 The most common primary solid tumor is the hemangioma (hamartoma) and the majority of these have been described as incidental autopsy findings. 2,3 Thirty-nine hemangiomas have been reported because of their clinical manifestations. 4 This report describes a case that illustrates some of the features common to this tumor and also demonstrates for the first time the results of radioisotopic scanning of a primary splenic neoplasm. Report of Case A 29-year-old white nurse was admitted to the University of Virginia Hospital in September 1963 for evaluation of unexplained splenomegaly. At the age of 19 she was told she had mild anemia and was