Noninvasive methods of diagnosing thoracic splenosis.

Thoracic splenosis is a rare condition resulting from concomitant rupture of the spleen and left hemidiaphragm, with autotransplantation of splenic tissue into the left hemithorax. It is usually an incidental finding on chest plain film or computed tomogram and is rarely diagnosed without biopsy or operation. A history of old splenic trauma and findings of left-sided, pleural-based nodules should indicate the diagnosis, which can be confirmed with nuclear medicine studies.