Littoral cell angioma discovered after splenectomy in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma. Case report and review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Littoral cell angioma (LCA) is a rare vascular primary tumor of the spleen with no more than 440 cases described so far. Although often seen as benign, it is described to have malignant potential and to be associated with other immunologic disorders or malignancies.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of LCA in a 75-year old man with a concomitant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and medical history of malign melanoma. The tumor was discovered incidentally after splenectomy for splenomegaly and refractory thrombocytopenia. The post-operative period was uneventful.

CONCLUSION: Our case is the first to report an association of LCA with both lymphoma and melanoma thus far. It emphasizes the need for a thorough total body examination for synchronous diseases and close follow-up to reveal associated malignancies or immunologic disorders. Further research is required to identify etiologic and pathogenetic mechanisms behind this tumor and a common basis between the three diseases