Snapshot
Volume 201 - Issue 8
Splenic rupture: a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis
Authors: Eugene Ng and Michelle Lee
Med J Aust 2014; 201 (8): 480. || doi: 10.5694/mja13.00116
Published online: 20 October 2014
Published online: 20 October 2014
This complication is rare, but potentially disastrous
A 28-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute left upper quadrant tenderness and postural hypotension. He reported having had fever and cervical tenderness for 1 week before his presentation.
Blood tests showed an elevated white cell count with reactive lymphocytosis. A test for infectious mononucleosis heterophile antibody was positive, consistent with recent infection.
A contrast scan of the abdomen showed splenomegaly with subcapsular haematoma.
Splenic rupture after infectious mononucleosis is rare (incidence, 0.1%–0.5%), but can have disastrous consequences if overlooked.1,2
References
- Khoo SG, Ullah I, Manning KP, Fenton JE. Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis. Ear Nose Throat J 2007; 86: 300-301. _Ref399327916
- Pfaffli M, Wyler D. Lethal atraumatic splenic rupture due to infectious mononucleosis. Arch Kriminol 2010; 225: 195-200. _Ref399327919