<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Wandering spleen is a very rare clinical condition characterized by spleen absence in the normal anatomical location in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen and its presence at another location in the abdomen or pelvis. The ectopic spleen is extremely rare in children, where its increased mobility is the result of a congenital disturbance of the fixation for the anterior wall due to the absence or weakness of the supporting ligaments. Wandering spleen is usually asymptomatic, but its torsion is possible, as well as infarction or rupture which demand an urgent diagnosis and surgical treatment. The diagnosis of wandering spleen can easily be overlooked due to low incidence and insufficient clinical experience, which multiplies patient's risk from life-threatening conditions. We present a case of wandering spleen in an 11-year-old girl with acute abdominal pain, which after ultrasound examination raised suspicion on the right adrenal gland tumor. Additional diagnostics verified an ectopic spleen in the right adrenal box, after which the recommended preventive splenopexy was seriously considered. Due to the fixation of the vital spleen in the new position, but also the negative attitude of the parents towards the surgical intervention, clinical monitoring was selected, with exclusion of intense physical activity that carries the risk of traumatization of the spleen. As the girl has been in good health for over 3 years and without symptoms, we consider that the selection of conservative access although difficult, was correct. We hope that our experience in treating wandering spleen in girls will increase the number of valid facts about this rare condition.</p></abstract>

Wandering spleen is a very rare clinical condition characterized by spleen absence in the normal anatomical location in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen and its presence at another location in the abdomen or pelvis. The ectopic spleen is extremely rare in children, where its increased mobility is the result of a congenital disturbance of the fixation for the anterior wall due to the absence or weakness of the supporting ligaments. Wandering spleen is usually asymptomatic, but its torsion is possible, as well as infarction or rupture which demand an urgent diagnosis and surgical treatment. The diagnosis of wandering spleen can easily be overlooked due to low incidence and insufficient clinical experience, which multiplies patient's risk from life-threatening conditions. We present a case of wandering spleen in an 11-year-old girl with acute abdominal pain, which after ultrasound examination raised suspicion on the right adrenal gland tumor. Additional diagnostics verified an ectopic spleen in the right adrenal box, after which the recommended preventive splenopexy was seriously considered. Due to the fixation of the vital spleen in the new position, but also the negative attitude of the parents towards the surgical intervention, clinical monitoring was selected, with exclusion of intense physical activity that carries the risk of traumatization of the spleen. As the girl has been in good health for over 3 years and without symptoms, we consider that the selection of conservative access although difficult, was correct. We hope that our experience in treating wandering spleen in girls will increase the number of valid facts about this rare condition.

Wandering Spleen - A Possible Cause of Adrenal “Mass” - Case Report

University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences

Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Wandering Spleen - A Possible Cause of Adrenal \u201cMass\u201d - Case Report"}

Wandering spleen is a very rare clinical condition characterized by spleen absence in the normal anatomical location in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen...

Wandering Spleen - A Possible Cause of Adrenal “Mass” - Case Report

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 271 - 275

Received: Aug 28, 2018

Accepted: Feb 11, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjecr-2019-0004

Keywords
spleen, splenic diseases, splenic torsion, wandering spleen

© 2021 Slavica Markovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Wandering Spleen - A Possible Cause of Adrenal “Mass” - Case Report

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 271 - 275

Received: Aug 28, 2018

Accepted: Feb 11, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjecr-2019-0004

Keywordsspleen, splenic diseases, splenic torsion, wandering spleen

© 2021 Slavica Markovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
spleen, splenic diseases, splenic torsion, wandering spleen