  Aims. Falomo et al. (2005) discovered a disk-like galaxy at ~ 1.2 arcsec from
the QSO Q0045-3337 by means of ESO VLT adaptive optics. They estimated a galaxy
Einstein radius (for a point mass) of comparable size, thus pointing up the
existence of a new, rare, spiral lens candidate, despite no evident image
splitting.
  Here we discuss the possible lensing effect of the galaxy in some more
detail.
  Methods. We performed two dimensional surface photometry on the VLT image of
the galaxy, confirming its spiral nature. We then verified if simple mass
models, partially constrained by observational data, require unrealistic
parameters to produce a still hidden second quasar image. We also evaluated the
respective viability of an instrumental or a lensing origin of the observed QSO
deformation.
  Results. After galaxy model subtraction, we found a residual image, likely
not related to gravitational lensing. Existing data are not sufficient to
assess the presence of image splitting, nor to constrain the number of images
or discriminate between galaxy mass models.
  Conclusion. Further observations are mandatory to progress in the study of
this remarkable system, that could shed more light on the lensing behaviour of
spiral galaxies.
