[Splenic hamartoma. Case report].

BACKGROUND: Hamartoma is a slow-growing, rare mixed benign tumor. In general, it does not produce symptoms, so it is more commonly found as an incidentaloma during autopsies or laparotomies. Incidence of splenic hamartomas is low, representing 0.001% of the general population.

CLINICAL CASE: We report the case of a 39 year-old male without relevant antecedents. The evolution of his condition began 2 months prior with pyrosis and occasional pain in the upper hemi-abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated a pseudocystic tumor in the spleen. Magnetic resonance showed four lesions in the spleen, predominating a large, bilobulated lesion in the inferior pole of 12 × 10 × 9 cm. A splenectomy was done without complications and the patient was discharged to home at third postoperative day. Pathological report showed a splenic hamartoma.

CONCLUSIONS: Hamartomas of the spleen as in other localizations are benign lesions found as incidentalomas because only few produce symptoms. The final diagnosis is made histopathologically. Definitive treatment is splenectomy and treatment of choice is complete laparoscopic transabdominal splenectomy. Although there are few incidences in Mexico, it is of vital importance that the physician considers it among the differential diagnoses when evaluating a tumor.