Mass on spleen

Question

I had problems with my stomach. They did a CT and found gall stones, big ones, but they also found a mass on my bigger than a marble. They did a ultra sound to see if it was a cyst. Came back negative. So they take out my gall bladder but I still get sick to my stomach but now it hurts on both sides and my left lower back. So they ordered another CT to check my spleen and it hasn't grown. They said they will do another in 6 months. I also had a upper GI done and that came back OK. What could it be, and has anyone gone through the same thing I am? I'm on suboxone for back pain due to a back surgery on my last 2 disks and all the hardware I have in my lower back. My middle of my back is now wearing down. They did say something about my liver but they don't seem concerned about it. Any help would be much helpful.

This discussion is related to Solid Mass on Spleen.

snowmyst · Answer

A related discussion, Spleen Mass Treatment options was started.

allen959 · Answer

To answer your other question....no, I do not usually get sick when I eat unless it is a high fat meal.  Then I have lots of problems.  If i eat good i usually do not have any problems.

allen959 · Answer

Had another MRI with contrast at the end of December.  Mass on spleen has grown slightly (about 5mm).  Radiologists continues to call it a hemangioma (perhaps a lymphangioma).  Primary doc is not concerned and wants to monitor with ultrasound every 6-12 months.  Seems reasonable to me. Even though it is most likely benign it still can grow to a size that could cause problems.  I was told then i would need my spleen out.  Guess we will watch and wait.

devildog0321 · Answer

yea the whole not knowing thing is the worse ive finally got another appointment with a new doctor under new insurance comming up this monday so hopefully ill get some answers... almost everytime i eat i get sick. sometimes i go days without eating only eating maybe once or twice a week and when i finally force my self to eat ill only have a couple bites and feel like ive pigged out. just really hoping this new doctor can shed some light on this mystery for me

Rick1971 · Answer

Allen,

It's nice to meet someone who is going through the same thing. In January I had a CT and they saw nothing out of the ordinary but in April I had another one and they saw the mass on the spleen. My endocronoligist is concerned but everyone else said let's do another CT and if it's grown any we'll send you to see a specialist. Well it didn't grow so they said let's wait 6 months and we'll do it again. Mean while I have this mass on my wrist (Bottom, right hand 1 inch under palm) the size of a golf ball and it's on the opposite side of your carpel tunnel is. They think it's a vascular tumor. They did ultra sound and said no clot or cyst. Mean while just under the mass I have another thing popping out this time it's longer and looks rectangle shape. Soft like the other mass. It just popped up one morning out of the blue. My Doctor said he's never seen anything like it in all his years of being a doctor (35). My petuitory Gland is shut down, I feel sick every time I eat. Do you get sick?

devildog0321 · Answer

I am  24 year old male who was always pretty healthy untill about 5 years a go. i was discharged from the marine corps due to what they think was a stroke, and ever since ive been having nonstop medical mysteries. it started with my my gallbladder being removed when i turned 22 and ever since then my abdomen has never been the same. i can bareky ever eat... maybe 2 to 3 meals a week and i have to force my self to eat. when i do eat i usually can only take a couple bites and it feels like ive pigged out and i get horrible pains in my stomach followed by diarreah which looks like motor oil. ive lost about 50 lbs in the past 2 months and gone through every test and scan they can think of with basically no results. they did find a mass in my spleen about 4 cm in diameter that they dont seem concerned about at all and rheumatoid arthritus has popped up multiple times on blood tests but my doc just keeps dismissing this too. ive always gotten sick a lot and when i do get sick ie flu or cold my stomach problems get really bad. i would think with a mass on my spleen and an auto immune disorder popping up something is definatly wrong with my immune system... am i crazy? Im no doctor but it makes sense to me. i cant really get a 2nd opinion because my primary insurance is refusing to pay any of my bills to to a pre existing disorder according to them leaving me with 50k in medical bills. i dont know what to do anymore. someone please share some insight

allen959 · Answer

rick, I can relate with you.  I am 43 and have had multiple vague symptoms that do not seem to make sense but has put me through all of the same tests you have listed.  Most recently cath., echo, abdomen mri, blood work, etc.  Primary doc is not sure what is going on.  Was have ab pain so hence the mri.  They found nothing of consequence except a spot on my spleen that had been seen before (had a previous ct in 2007) it grew a couple of mm since then.  Radiologist felt it was most likely a hemangioma, but then was referred to a hematologist/oncologist who also felt it was nothing of concern but wanted me to have a followup CT scan this month.  I am going to talk with radiologist directly since I would rather have another mri (no radiation exposure), but want to make sure this is the best test to classify the 'spot'.  Have read a lot over the internet about spleen lesions and not sure it there is any test that can really tell what it is except for taking the spleen out and doing a biopsy which is something I would not want to do right now.  It is interesting that I came upon your posting by accident and found that you and i have been through the very same gauntlet of tests and have such similar symptoms.  I am actually calling today to meet with radiologist.  If you ever want to talk about any of the tests, concerns, etc.  feel free to cotnact me anytime.  Allen

Rick1971 · Answer

They did a ultra sound on my spleen and found no fluid. So they said it was not a cyst. The problem is in January I had one done and my spleen was fine. In May I had real bad pains on my right side of my stomach so they did another CT to make sure my appendix wasn't the problem. When the Doctor read the CT he found gall stones and that's when he saw the mass on my spleen. So they ordered a ultra sound to see if it was a cyst. Came back negative. So they did another CT and said it could be cancer, let's wait a couple of months and see if it's grown. When I had my gall bladder surgery the doctor tried to look at it and do a biopsy on it, but he couldn't get to it. I have moles all over my back, had some removed in September and some are growing back. They came back pre-cancer. I have spots growing over night on my face, like a cluster by my temple. My blood pressure, they can't control, and this has been going on for over 2 years. I'm on 4 blood pressure med's. I'm only 39. I've had a cath done, nuclear stress test, ultra sound(Of heart), and they all came back clean. I can't eat, I get sick. I get full so fast. I work out and instead of losing weight I gain weight. My petuitory Gland doesn't work, I have no hormones. I'm on Endro gel. The endocronoligist say's I'll be on this for the rest of my life. Why is my body shutting down?

KMathurMD · Answer

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
 Tumors of spleen are rare and most are related to lymphomas. Other than that the mass could be a cyst, an abscess or a hemangioma. You need further follow up with a hematologist. Since you have backache, MRI or CT scan of the spine should also be done. Previous surgery could have caused postural problems and strain on another part of spine. Abdominal adhesions due to infection could also be the cause of pain and can only be diagnosed by a laparotomy. Take care!