Intrasplenic pseudoaneurysm is a potentially lethal
complication of abdominal trauma. We present the
case of a 33-year-old patient with this particular
complication diagnosed by CT-scan. Selective embolization was not possible due to its extraordinarily large
size and finally splenectomy was performed. We review the English literature and discuss the particular
role of the interventional radiologist to treat this entity. The interventional radiologist is the specialist
who better estimates the success of embolization or
the risk and possibility of delayed splenic rupture.
Embolization of the arterial tributary to the pseudoaneurysm should be considered as the treatment of
choice only when the diagnosis is made before rupture
of the spleen and only in selected cases. Splenectomy
always remains as an alternative treatment for highrisk pseudoaneurysms.
