[Thoracic splenosis. Review of the literature apropos of a case].

Thoracic splenosis consists of autotransplantation of splenic tissue in the thorax following thoraco-abdominal trauma. The authors report a case of thoracic splenosis in a 35 year old woman who suffered a thoraco-abdominal gunshot wound 12 years previously. Sixteen cases of thoracic splenosis have been reported in the literature. Always asymptomatic, the thoracic lesions were discovered by chance on chest x-rays performed for various reasons 9 to 32 years after the initial trauma. Surgery was required in 13 patients in order to establish the diagnosis. In 2 cases Tc99 and Indium 111 isotope scans revealed the diagnosis, avoiding the need for surgery.