Littoral Cell Angioma of the Spleen

Abstract

We report for the first time on the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of littoral cell angioma of the spleen (LCA). A patient presented with the incidental finding of splenomegaly which was investigated using modern ultrasound techniques. B-mode technique revealed heterogenous splenic parenchyma and small hypoechoic lesions up to 30 mm in size. Colour Doppler imaging revealed no specific vascularity. CEUS showed arterial hyper- and hypoenhancement with pronounced demarcation in the late phase. In an assumption of malignancy the lesions were biopsied using ultrasound guidance. Histology showed LCA. In this case report we discuss LCA in the light of new ultrasound techniques and present a review of the literature.

Zusammenfassung

Dies ist der erste Bericht über kontrastsonografische Eigenschaften eines Littoralzellangioms (LCA) der Milz. Ein Patient wurde mit zufällig detektierter asymptomatischer Splenomegalie vorgestellt und mit modernen Ultraschalltechniken untersucht. Im B-Bild fand sich ein heterogenes Milzparenchym mit hypoechogenen Milzläsionen bis zu 30 mm. Im Farbdoppler-Modus zeigte sich keine spezifische Vaskularisation. Im kontrastverstärkten Ultraschall konnten eine arterielle Mehr- und Minderanreicherung in der Spätphase nachgewiesen werden. Unter der Annahme einer malignen Läsion wurde diese sonografisch gezielt biopsiert. Die histologische Aufarbeitung zeigte ein Littoralzellangiom. Wir diskutieren das Litoralzellangiom im Hinblick auf moderne Ultraschalltechniken und analysieren die zur Verfügung stehende Literatur.

Schlüsselwörter

kontrastverstärkter Ultraschall - Milzraumforderungen - Littoralzellangiom - sonografisch gezielte Biopsie

Key words

contrast-enhanced ultrasound - splenic lesions - littoral cell angioma - ultrasound-guided biopsy

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