Spontaneous rupture of the spleen in sarcoidosis

Miliary tuberculosis with splenic rupture: a fatal case with hemophagocytic syndrome and possible association with long standing sarcoidosis

A fatal case of miliary tuberculosis complicated by splenic rupture and reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is presented. A 42 yr old Indian patient with a 7 yr history of sarcoidosis developed miliary tuberculosis and hemophagocytic syndrome after steroid therapy. A ruptured enlarged spleen with hemoperitoneum was detected at autopsy. This case highlights the need to consider the occurrence of tuberculosis in patients with sarcoidosis, especially after steroid therapy. Yellow bodies (Hamazaki-Wesenberg bodies), commonly but not exclusively found in sarcoidosis, were identified within the retroperitoneal lymph nodes in this case.

Spontaneous rupture of spleen in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis

Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, or "hairy cell leukemia," is a neoplasm of the reticuloendothelial system. It is characterized by the presence of many "hairy cells" in blood, marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen; by anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and often, by massive splenomegaly. Three such patients with spontaneous rupture and one patient with multiple infarctions of the spleen all had spleens which were large, congested, and diffusely infiltrated by "hairy cells." The lacerations in all three ruptured spleens were located in areas of extensive infarction. Indications for splenectomy in this disease include hypersplenism, severe cytopenia, hemodilution, splenomegaly with severe pressure symptoms, massive splenomegaly, rupture, or infarction.