Spleen cyst
A spleen cyst is a large group of diseases united by one feature - the formation of a cavity or several cavities in the spleen filled with fluid. The importance of the spleen for immunity is great, especially after fifty years. Therefore, it is recommended to remove it only in case of complete hopelessness, when it is no longer possible to preserve the organ.
A spleen cyst is found in about one percent of the world's inhabitants. Moreover, in a significant part of patients, such a cyst is found during a routine examination. Women 35-55 years old are more susceptible to this disease, men - 4 times less often. There are varieties of spleen cysts: single, numerous, genuine, false (inflammatory, traumatic).
A true cyst is considered congenital and is a consequence of the pathology of embryogenesis. It is a hereditary disease or genetic disorder - multiple cystic destruction of various organs (for example, liver, kidneys, brain). The cause of false cysts is considered to be serious injuries of the spleen with various types of ruptures, complex operations, as well as some types of modern medicines, various infectious diseases and the consequences of a spleen infarction.
Clinical manifestations of spleen cysts
A typical clinic of cysts manifests itself depending on the scale, location and nature of the cyst. If the cyst is up to two centimeters in size, then there are no symptoms. Patients suffering from a spleen cyst often do not have any characteristic complaints. With the greatest volume, external signs of a malfunction of the spleen may be absent, but at the same time, chronic or periodic pain in the abdomen often appears. They can start much earlier (maybe even several years) before the doctor detects the cyst.
Quite often, many patients complain of severe pain in the shoulder, heaviness, an unpleasant feeling on the left in the region of the ribs, and after eating they feel nausea and vomiting. Other respiratory signs are sometimes noted, such as a tingling sensation in the thoracic region during a deep breath, regular coughing, and shortness of breath.
With a cyst diameter of 7-8 centimeters, or with multiple lesions of 1/5 of the spleen cysts, its increase is noticed, severe nausea occurs and there is a dysfunction of the digestive system. If a purulent inflammatory process begins in the cyst, then the patient in most cases has fever, tremors, general impotence.
The main complications of this disease are rupture of cysts (while the contents of the cyst flow into the abdominal cavity), severe bleeding, as well as the inevitable ingress of infection develops suppuration. All this causes severe intoxication, and in rare cases, peritonitis.
Most often, a spleen cyst is found during a routine examination, as well as during ultrasound and tomography. When a cyst is found, there is a question of determining its type in order to accurately diagnose and then prescribe the correct treatment. This issue is being solved with the help of modern serological studies to find parasites. If the diameter of the cyst is less than three centimeters, then it is enough to be observed by a narrow specialist and to do a screening ultrasound at least once a year.
If the cyst increases in size or its structure changes, it is necessary to do a computed tomography with contrast to exclude the malignant growth of the cyst walls. The operation is not prescribed for these patients. Alternative methods of treating spleen cysts do not bring results, since there are no necessary elements of resorption of focal fibrosis.
Patients of three categories are referred to operations:
1) Unconditional: purulent inflammation, bleeding, rupture;
2) Conditionally unconditional: suppuration, bleeding, ruptures, a cyst with a diameter of more than ten centimeters, when the patient suffers persistent, chronic pain in the left side;
3) Relative: diameter of cysts 3-10 centimeters, relapse after ineffective previous treatment.
Today, surgical intervention is considered an appropriate type of treatment, since the patient can be returned to normal activities in the shortest possible time.
There are several types of treatment for spleen cysts using surgery. The first type is the removal of a significant part of the cyst with a membrane and is processed inside with specially prepared plasma. The second - complete removal of the spleen with all cysts. And the third is characterized by the use of ultrasound equipment, with the help of which a cyst is punctured and a sclerosing solution is introduced into the cavity.
Puncture in today's medical practice is used in surgery to treat common cysts up to 5 centimeters in diameter, which are located on the surface of the organ. The usual open operations with a large incision of the peritoneum are now extremely rare.
If it is necessary to remove the cyst together with the spleen, a unique splenectomy is used. Laparoscopy is also used in modern surgical practice. This method has a number of obvious advantages, which include the least invasiveness, excellent cosmetic results, and rapid rehabilitation. In addition, it is possible to simultaneously correct concomitant diseases of the abdominal cavity organs, small pelvis, which require surgery.
In the future, the patient is recommended to be supervised by a hematologist and a surgeon. The operated patients do not need any specific diet. It is advisable to reduce serious physical overload for 2-3 months. When the rehabilitation period expires, any patient is considered healthy, however, it is recommended that he undergo a control ultrasound once every six months for the next 2 years.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
