Splenosis mimicking tumor recurrence in renal cell carcinoma: detection on selective spleen scintigraphy.

A 2-year-old boy had been operated on for a giant renal cell carcinoma including splenectomy because of disrupture of the splenic capsule. During a follow-up examination, 3 nodules were detected by ultrasound in the splenorenal area. This gave reason to suspect tumor recurrence. Considering the possibility of splenosis, a selective spleen scan using denatured red blood cells was performed as a final diagnostic step. This method confirmed the nodules as representing splenic tissue. Splenosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of solid masses in the postsplenectomy patient. Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.