[Torsion of a wandering spleen]

Abstract

The torsion of an ectopic (= wandering) spleen is a rare entity especially in children. Clinically it presents either with signs of an "acute abdomen" or as a fairly painful abdominal "tumor" of the chronic recurrent type. Ultrasonography, arteriography, and additional scintigraphy in special cases are of greatest value in the preoperative diagnostic management. Splenopexy, sometimes after resecting parts of a very enlarged organ, is the therapy of choice. The complete exstirpation of the ectopic spleen should be reserved only for exceptional cases. By presenting a case report, the etiologic factors, the clinical signs, the diagnostic steps, the differential diagnostic considerations as well as the mode of therapy for this rare disease are described and discussed.