A Rare Case of Spontaneous Splenic Rupture as the Index Presentation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Splenic injury is usually caused by blunt trauma to the abdomen. Very rarely, spontaneous rupture can occur in patients with splenomegaly due to various underlying pathological conditions such as hematological, neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. Here, we report the case of a 48-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency department with sudden-onset pain in the abdomen and hypotension. Blood investigation revealed anemia and leukocytosis with blast cells on peripheral smear, suggestive of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed splenomegaly with grade three splenic laceration and a subcapsular hematoma with hemoperitoneum. Because of persistent hemodynamic instability, despite resuscitation, he underwent emergency splenectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful. Bone marrow biopsy revealed CML in the chronic phase with World Health Organization grade I reticulin fibrosis. Subsequently, he was started on hydroxyurea and discharged for further follow-up with medical oncology.