Vol 77, No 2 (2018)
Case report
Published online: 2017-10-17
Wandering spleen: a unique cause of acute abdomen
Abstract
We present the case of a 16-year-old boy presented with 2-week episode of worsening lower abdominal pain. Clinically, there was a tender palpable mass on the suprapubic region. Ultrasonography showed an absent spleen at its usual area, instead suprapubic mass suggestive of ectopic spleen was identified. An emergency laparotomy revealed a congested spleen in the pelvic cavity. Splenectomy was undertaken as it was non-viable. The patient was discharged uneventfully with triple vaccinations. We describe this unique entity with its literature review. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 400–402)
Keywords: wandering spleenpelvic spleentorsionultrasound
References
- Badran DH, Kalbouneh HM, Al-Hadidi MT, et al. Ultrasonographic assessment of splenic volume and its correlation with body parameters in a Jordanian population. Saudi Med J. 2015; 36(8): 967–972.
- Cotes C, Swischuk LE. Left upper quadrant pain: upside down spleen. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013; 29(9): 1009–1010.
- d'Amico A, Cofalik A, Przeorek C, et al. Role of nuclear medicine imaging in differential diagnosis of accessory spleens in patients after splenectomy. Pol J Radiol. 2012; 77(1): 68–71.
- D'altorio RA, Cano JY. Upside-down spleen as cause of suprarenal mass. Urology. 1978; 11(4): 422–424.
- Herman TE, Siegel MJ. CT of acute splenic torsion in children with wandering spleen. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1991; 156(1): 151–153.
- Iqbal M, Tareen MA, Sohail U. Torsion of a wandering spleen presenting as a case of acute abdomen. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2009; 19(2): 123–124.
- Palas J, Matos AP, Ramalho M. The spleen revisited: an overview on magnetic resonance imaging. Radiol Res Pract. 2013; 2013: 219297.
- Sayeed S, Koniaris L, Kovach S, et al. Torsion of a wandering spleen. Surgery. 2002; 132(3): 535–536.
- Zarroug AE, Hashim Y, El-Youssef M, et al. Wandering spleen as a cause of mesenteric and portal varices: a new etiology? J Pediatr Surg. 2013; 48(3): e1–e4.