World Journal of Surgical Oncology (Jul 2012)

Spontaneous splenic rupture in patient with metastatic melanoma treated with vemurafenib

  • Castellani Elisa,
  • Covarelli Piero,
  • Boselli Carlo,
  • Cirocchi Roberto,
  • Rulli Antonio,
  • Barberini Francesco,
  • Caracappa Daniela,
  • Cini Carla,
  • Desiderio Jacopo,
  • Burini Gloria,
  • Noya Giuseppe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7819-10-155
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 155

Abstract

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Abstract Background BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib are a new family of biological drugs, recently available to treat metastatic malignant melanoma. Methods We present the case of a 38-year-old man affected by metastatic melanoma who had been under treatment with vemurafenib for a few days. The patient suffered from sudden onset of abdominal pain due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage with profuse hemoperitoneum. An emergency abdominal sonography confirmed the clinical suspicion of a splenic rupture. Results The intraoperative finding was hemoperitoneum due to splenic two-step rupture and splenectomy was therefore performed. Histopathology confirmed splenic hematoma and capsule laceration, in the absence of metastasis. Conclusions This report describes the occurrence of a previously unreported adverse event in a patient with stage IV melanoma receiving vemurafenib.

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