Background: A non-traumatic rupture of the spleen is a rare, serious condition with a high mortality rate. This sort of rupture can occur in a healthy patient or in patients with an underlying disease such as an infection or a haematological disorder.
Case description: Here we describe a 52-year-old man who had Legionella pneumonia and suffered a spontaneous rupture of the spleen. He had to undergo a splenectomy following an unsuccessful embolisation of the lienal artery. He recovered. In the second patient, a 73-year-old man with monoclonal gammopathy, rupture of the spleen was caused by amyloidosis of the spleen.
Conclusion: Rupture of the spleen can cause life threatening haemorrhage, so early recognition is important.