Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Splenogonadal fusion

Incidental finding in post-mortem imaging in a 63-year-old man

Splenogonadale Fusion

Zufallsbefund im Rahmen einer postmortalen bildgebenden Untersuchung bei einem 63-Jährigen

  • Kasuistiken
  • Published:
Rechtsmedizin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Splenogonadal fusion (SGF) is a rare malformation occurring in both men and women (male-female ratio 16.6:1). This generally relatively rare benign embryonic malformation has been described in the literature often in the form of a case report, mainly by urologists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists and pathologists. A case of a 63-year-old man with no external deformities in whom SGF of the continuous type was documented as an incidental finding during a forensic autopsy and in the post-mortem computed tomography (CT) is described. A comparison with the international literature shows that this case constitutes a great rarity within the last 20 years.

Zusammenfassung

Die splenogonadale Fusion (SGF) ist eine seltene Fehlbildung, die bei Männern und Frauen zu finden ist (Verhältnis von Männern zu Frauen: 16,6:1). Diese i. Allg. gutartige embryonale Fehlbildung wurde in der Literatur – meist in Form von „case reports“ – v. a. von Urologen, Kinderchirurgen, Radiologen oder Pathologen beschrieben. Im gegenständlichen Fall eines 63 Jahre alt gewordenen Mannes wurde die SGF vom kontinuierlichen Typ erst als postmortaler Zufallsbefund im Rahmen der gerichtlichen Sektion und postmortalen bildgebenden Untersuchung festgestellt. Eine ausführliche internationale Literaturrecherche konnte zeigen, dass es sich bei dieser Konstellation um einen in den letzten 20 Jahren sehr seltenen Befund handelt.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alvarez Maestro M, Lopez-Tello J, Dominguez F et al (2010) Splenogonadal fusion. Report of a case and review of the literature. Actas Urol Esp 34(3):293–295

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bostroem E (1883) Demonstration eines Praparates von Verwachsung der Mils mit dem lenken Hoden. Gesellschaft deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte, Verhandlungen der 56. Versammlung, Freiburg, S. 149

  3. Buccoliero AM, Messineo A, Castiglione F et al (2011) Splenogonadal fusion: exceptional association with Moebius syndrome and intestinal intussusception. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 30(4):220–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Carragher AM (1990) One hundred years of splenogonadal fusion. Urology 35(6):471–475

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen SL, Kao YL, Sun HS et al (2008) Splenogonadal fusion. J Formos Med Assoc 107(11):892–895

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. De Ravel TJ, Seftel MD, Wright CA (1997) Tetra-amelia and splenogonadal fusion in Roberts syndrome. Am J Med Genet 68(2):185–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Duncan WL Jr, Barraza MA (2005) Splenogonadal fusion: a case report and review of literature. J Pediatr Surg 40(12):5–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gouw AS, Elema JD, Bink-Boelkens MT et al (1985) The spectrum of splenogonadal fusion. Case report and review of 84 reported cases. Eur J Pediatr 144(4):316–623

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hasegawa Y, Kanemitsu I, Ueoka K (2011) Transverse testicular ectopia with splenogonadal fusion: a case report. Int J Urol 18(6):466–468

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ikeda A, Nakatsu H, Suzuki Y (2010) Case of splenogonadal fusion in an adult. Int J Urol 17(9):826–827

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Imperial SL, Sidhu JS (2002) Nonseminomatous germ cell tumor arising in splenogonadal fusion. Arch Pathol Lab Med 126(10):1222–1225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jequier S, Hanquinet S, Lironi A (1998) Splenogonadal fusion. Pediatr Radiol 28(7):526

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Karaman MI, Gonzales ET Jr (1996) Splenogonadal fusion: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. J Urol 155(1):309–311

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kaya C, Koca O, Karaman IM et al (2010) Splenogonadal fusion in a 13-year-old boy with contralateral displaced intra-abdominal testis. Urology 75(1):173–175

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Keyik B, Yanik B, Conkbayir I et al (2010) Continuous-type splenogonadal fusion associated with an ipsilateral testicular atrophy: sonographic findings. J Clin Ultrasound 38(3):161–163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Khairat AB, Ismail AM (2005) Splenogonadal fusion: case presentation and literature review. J Pediatr Surg 40(8):1357–1360

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kocher NJ, Tomaszewski JJ, Parsons RB et al (2014) Splenogonadal fusion: a rare etiology of solid testicular mass. Urology 83(1):1–2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kumar S, Jayant K, Agrawal S et al (2014) A rare case of continuous type splenogonadal fusion in a young male with primary infertility. Case Rep Urol 796–761. doi:10.1155//2014/796761

    Google Scholar 

  19. Le Roux PJ, Heddle RM (2000) Splenogonadal Fusion: is the accepted classification system accurate? BJU Int 85:114–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Li YH (2009) Preoperative detection of splenogonadal fusion by CT. Surg Radiol Anat 31(9):733–735

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lin CS, Lazarowicz JL, Allan RW et al (2010) Splenogonadal fusion. J Urol 184(1):332–333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lopes RI, de Medeiros MT, Arap MA (2012) Splenogonadal fusion and testicular cancer: case report and review of the literature. Einstein (Sao Paulo) 10(1):92–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Miersch WD, Vogel J, Molitor D et al (1990) Splenogonadal fusion. Z Urol Nephrol 83(1):33–37

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Mishra VC, Sharif HM, Hudd C (2001) Splenogonadal fusion. Int Urol Nephrol 33(4):655–656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Montes J, Tagle R, Navarro M et al (2005) Fusióne splenogonadal. Reporte de 1 caso. Rev Chil Urol 70:75

    Google Scholar 

  26. Moore PJ, Hawkins EP, Galliani CA et al (1997) Splenogonadal fusion with limb deficiency and micrognathia. South Med J 90(11):1151–1155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Patafio FM, Dufton JA, Walker DR (2011) Case of the Month #173: Splenogonadal Fusion. Can Assoc Radiol J 62(4):302–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Pommer G (1887) Verwachsung des linken kryptorchischen Hodens und Nebenhodens mit der Milz in einer Missgeburt mit zahlreichen Bildungsdefekten. Ber D Naturw – Med Ver Innsbr 17–19:144–148

    Google Scholar 

  29. Prada Arias M, Vázquez Castelo JL, Montero Sánchez M et al (2006) Supernumerary intrascrotal ectopic spleen: discontinuous splenogonadal fusion. An Pediatr (Barc) 64(3):277–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Putchar W (1934) Die der Tiere. In: Schwalbe E, Gruber GB (eds) Die Entwicklungsstörungen der Milz. Fischer G., Jena, pp 760–856

    Google Scholar 

  31. Putschar WGJ, Manion WC (1956) Splenic – gonadal Fusion. Am J Pathol 32(1):15–33

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Steinmetz AP, Rappaport A, Nikolov G et al (1997) Splenogonadal fusion diagnosed by spleen scintigraphy. J Nucl Med 38(7):1153–1155

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Trias Puig-Sureda I, Orsola los de Santos A, Raventós Busquets CX et al (2007) Splenogonadal fusion. Report of a case. Actas Urol Esp 31(5):559–561

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Varga I, Galfiova P, Adamkov M et al (2009) Congenital anomalies of the spleen from an embryological point of view. Med Sci Monit 15(12):269–276

    Google Scholar 

  35. Varma DR, Sirineni GR, Rao MV et al (2007) Sonographic and CT features of splenogonadal fusion. Pediatr Radiol 37:916–919

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Velarde Ramos L, Sepulveda F, Silva E et al (2012) Discontinuous intrabdominal splenogonadal fusion with germ cell tumor. Excision with robotic assistence. Adult case report. Arch Esp Urol 65(8):762–765

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Vosshenrich R, Bartkowski R, Fischer U et al (1991) Splenogonadale Fusion. RoFo 155(2):191–193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Wejman J (1993) Splenogonadal fusion. A case report. Patol Pol 44(4):233–235

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Wiltschke L (1929) Über Nebenmilzen in einem von der Milz zur Mesosalpinx ziehenden Strang. Virchows Arch 273:742–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang Y, Tong Z, Zhang Y (2013) X‑ray computed tomography and sonography features of continuous splenogonadal fusion. J Xray Sci Technol 21(2):303–308

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529, Hamburg, Germany

    N. Wilke-Schalhorst,  H. Vogel &  K. Püschel

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany

    C. Braun

Authors
  1. N. Wilke-Schalhorst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Braun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Vogel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Püschel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Wilke-Schalhorst.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

N. Wilke-Schalhorst, C. Braun, H. Vogel and K. Püschel state that they have no competing interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. All investigations described in the present manuscript were carried with the approval of the responsible ethics committee and in accordance with national law and the Helsinki Declaration from 1975 (in its current revised form). Informed consent was obtained from the relatives or legal guardian of the subject identifiable from images or other information within the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wilke-Schalhorst, N., Braun, C., Vogel, H. et al. Splenogonadal fusion. Rechtsmedizin 27, 27–32 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-016-0125-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-016-0125-y

Keywords

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation