[Non-traumatic arteriovenous malformation of the spleen with fatal hemorrhage].

From the medical point of view, splenic rupture developed either as a result of traumatic injury or as a result of any type of splenic disease represents a very severe and life-threatening condition. We describe the case of a 65-year old man without any obvious traumatic injury who was hospitalised because of left abdominal pain. Investigations performed at admission to the hospital (RTG, USG) failed to indicate any signs of intraabdominal bleeding. However, the patient died suddenly after 24 hours of hospitalisation. At autopsy massive intraabdominal bleeding was found. It was caused by rupture of splenic intraparenchymal hematoma developed as a result of an arteriovenous malformation in the lower pole of the spleen. This case shows the necessity of knowledge of all circumstances of death as well as the necessity of consistent histological investigation of the spleen in such cases.