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Case Reports
. 2023 Oct 16:11:2050313X231205812.
doi: 10.1177/2050313X231205812. eCollection 2023.

Volvulus of a wandering enlarged pelvic spleen involving pancreatic tail: A case report

Kasun Lakmal  1 , Shalika Upendra Nagasinghe  1 , Ganesarajah Niruban  1 , Minidu Ravinda Chandraguptha  1 , Sathasivam Kalaiyukan  1 , Kanchana Wijesinghe  1 , Malith Nandasena  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Volvulus of a wandering enlarged pelvic spleen involving pancreatic tail: A case report

Kasun Lakmal et al. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Splenic volvulus of wandering spleen is a rare clinical condition. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially if undetected. Here, we report a case of 32-year-old female who presented with worsening abdominal pain for 1-week duration. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed splenic volvulus with infarction and involvement of the pancreatic tail. She underwent exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy with preservation of the pancreatic tail. Patient progressed favourably. Our case report describes a rare clinical entity of a splenic volvulus with a twisted pancreatic tail. This is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Splenic volvulus; pancreatic tail; wandering spleen.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Computed tomography images. (a) Axial image showing moderately enlarged spleen with absent enhancement. (b)Whirl appearance of splenic pedicle, including the pancreatic tail (demonstration of a thickened and coiled vascular pedicle) – pathognomonic finding of torsion.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Intraoperative findings. (a) Infarcted, moderately enlarged pelvic spleen. (b) Splenic volvulus showing torsion of splenic pedicle. (c) Untwisted splenic pedicle along with pancreatic tail. (d) Splenectomy specimen (20 cm × 15 cm × 9 cm).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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