Splenunculus mimicking splenomegaly in a patient with synchronous herpes simplex 1 viremia and myelosuppression. Issue 11 (20th November 2022) - Paul, Dion A.
Abstract: Splenunculus, or congenital accessory spleen, is a benign anatomical variation, and is rarely of clinical consideration in routine clinical practice. We describe a patient who presented with synchronous herpes simplex 1 viraemia and myelosuppression, with a splenunculus mimicking splenomegaly, and we discuss the implications on clinical practice, investigations, and management. Abstract : Splenunculi are asymptomatic and often incidental findings on imaging. Usually, splenunculi do not present as a left upper quadrant mass on clinical examination. This highlights the importance of our case as a teaching tool for clinicians that a splenunculus should be considered as a differential for splenomegaly in immunocompromised patients.