Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in Atypical Pneumonia From Mycoplasma Infection

Abstract

Splenic rupture is a potentially life-threatening condition, often associated with chest or abdominal trauma. Atraumatic splenic rupture (ASR) is quite rare. When reported, it is usually attributed to underlying pathological conditions such as malignant neoplastic disorders, viral infections, or inflammatory processes. Here, we report a case of ASR in a patient that was attributed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. This was supported by the diagnosis of atypical pneumonia secondary to M. pneumoniae, presence of multiple pseudoaneurysms in the spleen, and presence of cold agglutinins indicating an inflammatory state likely due to systemic vasculitis. Additionally, the lack of recent trauma further corroborated the mycoplasma infection as the driving force behind the splenic rupture.