Splenic avulsion and bleeding shown on radiocolloid images

A case is discussed of a man who presented with trauma to the chest and abdomen. A radiocolloid image showed uptake by the liver. However, the spleen was not identified. Areas of activity outside of the spleen were noted. The patient had splenic avulsion; extra sites of activity likely represented bleeding sites in the abdomen. Failure to identify the spleen on a radiocolloid image, after trauma, should be an alerting sign to possible splenic avulsion (especially when there are also ectopic sites of accumulation of the radiocolloid)