A case of spontaneous rupture of the spleen in a 67-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia is presented. T h e patient had been hospitalized and treated with chlorambucil but had complained of left upper quadrant pain during and subsequent to her hospitalization. Immediately prior to death this became extremely severe and the patient exhibited weakness and nausea. At autopsy generalized lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly were noted. Other cases of spontaneous rupture of the spleen also are summarized from the literature. Only 32 cases have been found in leukemic patients and all b u t 3 have been in men. Although spontaneous rupture of the spleen is an unusual occurrence, the authors conclude that in some cases there is no history of injury or stress.
PONTANEOUS RUPTURE OF THE SPLEEN IS A
S complication infrequently seen in patients with leukemia. I n the present paper the occurrence of spontaneous splenic rupture in a patient with chronic lymyhocytic leukemia is reported and the pertinent literature is reviewed.
CASE REPORT
V. R., a 67-year-old widow, was admitted to the Francis Delafield Hospital on August 31, 1962, with complaints of frequent "colds," a 30-pound weight loss, and weakness of 14month duration. She was referred to the hospital when examination elsewhere revealed generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Past history was otherwise noncontributory.