Brucellosis is a common zoonosis, which is particularly prevalent in Mediterranean countries. It produces a multisystemic illness that can present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and complications 1.
This article is focusing on the splenic involvement by brucellosis. For general discussion please refer to brucellosis article.
Radiographic features
Splenic brucellosis may present as an abscess 1 or as a calcified splenic lesion. The calcification of chronic brucellosis in the spleen is characteristic. When these calcifications are present, this diagnosis should be considered despite whether symptoms of active disease are present 2.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis for other causes of splenic abscesses include:
- infective endocarditis
- trauma
- immunodeficiency states: chemotherapy/transplant recipients, leukemia and AIDS
- splenic infarction with superimposed infection
- contiguous infection, such as from a perinephric abscess or infected necrotic pancreatitis
- hematogenous bacterial dissemination, such as sepsis
For the differential diagnosis of calcified splenic lesions refer to the splenic calcification article
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