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Angiolipomatous hamartoma is a benign mesenchymal proliferation of unknown aetiology. Only a few cases have been documented in the published literature. This current case report describes a 57-year-old female patient who was hospitalized for an assessment of a previously radiologically-verified splenic lesion and further treatment. The patient had been surgically treated 10 years previously; a lobectomy of the superior left pulmonary lobe had been performed in order to remove a verified tumour lesion. A complete radiological examination was undertaken, which verified a spleen of a size that was within the physiological range, with a centrally-located lobular tumour lesion. Given the risk of splenic rupture, as well as the fact that the lesion's aetiology was still undetermined, and finally the fact that differential diagnostics indicated the possibility of a metastasis, the patient was treated surgically. Laparoscopic splenectomy, in the treatment of splenic diseases, even rare ones such as this, is not a novelty. Indeed, it needs to be applied as the standard approach, with the well-known benefits that the minimalized approach offers.

Methods of surgical treatment of hematological diseases of the spleen have changed significantly in the past decade. The introduction of laparoscopic and minimally invasiveprocedures as standard for solving a significant number of conditions in abdominal surgery, has led surgeons toincreasingly use laparoscopic surgery of the spleen. However, some unique anatomical characteristics of the spleen can lead to limitation in the application of laparoscopy. In this study, we investigated the application of laparoscopic splenectomy in the treatment of haematological disorders of the spleen, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics, the presentation ofoperational technique and the evaluation of the success of this procedure. In the treatment of benign hematological diseases, the effectiveness and efficiency of laparoscopy has been proven. The speculation of medical professionals is that laparoscopic splenectomy is an equal, if not the superior way of treating benign hematological diseases of the spleen in relation to the open procedure, and that there is a chance that laparoscopy might completely replace the classical surgery in most of it's indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]