Aim: To establish the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) for littoral cell angioma (LCA).
Methods: From September 2003 to November 2013, 27 patients were diagnosed with LCA in our institution. These patients were divided into two groups based on operative procedure: LS (13 cases, Group 1) and open splenectomy (14 cases, Group 2). Data were collected retrospectively by chart review. Comparisons were performed between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics (sex and age); operative outcomes (operative time, estimated blood loss, transfusion, and conversion); postoperative details (length of postoperative stay and complications); and follow-up outcome.
Results: LS was successfully carried out in all patients except one in Group 1, who required conversion to hand-assisted LS because of perisplenic adhesions. The average operative time for patients in Group 1 was significantly shorter than that in Group 2 (127 ± 34 min vs 177 ± 25 min, P = 0.001). The average estimated blood loss in Group 1 was significantly lower than in Group 2 (62 ± 48 mL vs 138 ± 64 mL, P < 0.01). No patient in Group 1 required a blood transfusion, whereas one in Group 2 required a transfusion. Two patients in Group 1 and four in Group 2 suffered from postoperative complications. All the complications were cured by conservative therapy. There were no deaths in our series. All patients were followed up and no recurrence or abdominal metastasis were found.
Conclusion: LS for patients with LCA is safe and feasible, with preferable operative outcomes and long-term tumor-free survival.
Keywords: Laparoscopy; Littoral cell angioma; Minimal invasiveness; Splenectomy; Splenic tumor.