Sarcoidosis presenting as massive splenomegaly and severe epistaxis, case report
Division
South Atlantic
Hospital
Grand Strand Medical Center
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
4-8-2020
Keywords
Sarcoidosis, Thrombocytopenia, Splenomegaly, Splenic artery aneurysm, Epistaxis
Disciplines
Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases | Internal Medicine | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology. Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis can involve any organ, but isolated spleen involvement is rare. Diagnosis can be challenging as other etiologies may have similar presentations. A 58-year-old African American female presented with life threatening epistaxis, anemia, refractory thrombocytopenia, and massive splenomegaly. Lymphoproliferative, infectious, and autoimmune etiologies were eliminated with laboratory testing and bone marrow biopsy. The patient had multiple splenic artery aneurysms precluding an open diagnostic splenectomy. Partial splenic artery embolization was performed, which normalized the platelet count and resolved the spontaneous bleeding. This allowed diagnostic splenectomy and splenic artery repair to be safely performed. Surgical pathology demonstrated extensive non-caseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. We present this case to demonstrate the omnipotent nature of sarcoidosis and a complex multi-disciplinary approach for successful diagnosis and treatment.
Publisher or Conference
Annals of Medicine and Surgery
Recommended Citation
Stoelting A, Esperti S, Balanchivadze N, Piacentino V, Mangano A. Sarcoidosis presenting as massive spelnomegaly and severe epistaxis, case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020;54():6-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.03.007