Bleeding gastric varices secondary to wandering spleen

Abstract

A case of bleeding gastric varices produced by a "wandering spleen" is presented, the first report in the literature of such a complication. Ectopic position of the spleen is most often diagnosed following evaluation for abdominal pain or detection of an asymptomatic mass. In our patient, torsion of the splenic pedicle produced gastric fundal varices. These were demonstrated on upper gastrointestinal series and confirmed at splenectomy.