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CASE REPORT article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Surgical Oncology
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1415225

Abrupt elevation of tumor marker levels in a huge splenic epidermoid cyst, a case report

Provisionally accepted
Hao Cai Hao Cai 1Zhenyu Hei Zhenyu Hei 1Guanghua Liu Guanghua Liu 2Feng Zhao Feng Zhao 2Chunfeng Wang Chunfeng Wang 3Wenbin Guan Wenbin Guan 2Gang Ren Gang Ren 2Qing Zhou Qing Zhou 2Yi Dong Yi Dong 2Ying Wang Ying Wang 2Wei Gong Wei Gong 1*Litian Chen Litian Chen 1*
  • 1 Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
  • 2 Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
  • 3 Qianqiao Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Epidermoid cyst of the spleen is a rare disease and relatively few cases were reported by literatures. Most published case reports provided inadequate information on the impact of splenic epidermoid cyst on tumor markers. A 32years old woman with a giant splenic epidermoid cyst was reported, for whom, serum concentration of a collection of tumor markers (CA19-9, CEA, CA125, CA242 and CA50) increased abruptly accompanied with left upper abdominal pain for 5 days. After comprehensive pre-operative examination and multidisciplinary team discussion, we ruled out any concurrent malignancy and a laparoscopic total splenectomy was performed, during which the splenic cyst spontaneously ruptured unexpectedly. After surgery, the elevated serum tumor marker levels decreased sharply until reaching normal range 3 month later. Learning from the case, we conclude that interval monitoring of serum tumor markers is of critical value for patients with splenic epidermoid cyst. Abrupt elevation of tumor marker levels and abdominal pain may serve as a sign of cyst rupture, which is strongly indicative of surgical intervention as soon as possible. Total removal of the splenic cyst is strongly suggested considering the recurrence and malignant potential of the splenic epidermoid cyst.

    Keywords: Splenic epidermoid cyst, tumor markers, CA19-9, CEA, CA125, Laparoscopic splenectomy

    Received: 10 Apr 2024; Accepted: 24 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Cai, Hei, Liu, Zhao, Wang, Guan, Ren, Zhou, Dong, Wang, Gong and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Wei Gong, Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, Shanghai, China
    Litian Chen, Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, Shanghai, China

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