Huge splenic epidermoid cyst with elevation of serum CA19-9 level

J Med Invest. 2015;62(1-2):89-92. doi: 10.2152/jmi.62.89.

Abstract

A 30-year-old female was referred to our hospital for further examination of liver dysfunction. A huge, soft mass was noted in her left upper quadrant on physical examination. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a huge cystic tumor of 20 cm in the hilus of the spleen. Serum CA19-9 was 491 U/ml, and splenectomy was performed under suspicion of a malignant cystic tumor. The inner surface of the cyst was lined by squamous epithelial cells that were immunohistochemically positive for CA19-9. Serum CA19-9 level was normalized after the surgery. Our case of a very rare, huge epidermoid cyst of the spleen suggests that measurement of the serum CA19-9 level is useful for evaluating therapeutic efficacy of a splenic epidermoid cyst.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CA-19-9 Antigen / blood*
  • Epidermal Cyst / blood*
  • Epidermal Cyst / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Splenic Diseases / blood*
  • Splenic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • CA-19-9 Antigen