Torsion of a wandering spleen: A rare cause of acute abdomen

Wandering spleen is a rare condition that accounts for less than 0.25% of all indications for splenectomy. It is characterized by ectopic localization of the spleen owing to the lack or weakening of its ligaments. Torsion is the most common complication due to its long pedicle and high mobility, which may result in acute abdomen. We report a case of torsion in a wandering spleen in a 28-year-old male presenting with an acute abdomen that was treated by splenectomy.Wandering spleen is a rare condition, which may be incidentally detected as an abdominal mass or can present with torsion of its pedicle causing an acute abdomen. Alternative names are: ectopic spleen, displaced spleen, floating spleen, or pelvic spleen. It is characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of one or all ligaments that hold the spleen in its normal anatomical position in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.1 It mainly affects children (one-third of cases), with a female predominance after age one.2 Among adults, it most frequently affects women of reproductive age, in whom acquired laxity of the splenic ligaments is usually the cause.2 Due to lack of specific symptoms, diagnosis is difficult, unless there is torsion, presenting as acute abdomen. Radiological imaging is required to make diagnosis; treatment is either splenopexy or splenectomy. We report a case of torsion of wandering spleen in a 28-year-old male presenting with an acute abdomen, which was treated by splenectomy.     

Acute torsion of a wandering spleen

The 'wandering spleen' is a rare condition due to extreme laxity or absence of ligaments that fix the organ in its normal anatomical position within the left upper quadrant. Without early surgical intervention, wandering spleen can lead to torsion and subsequent splenic infarction or rupture. Clinical suspicion plus urgent investigation and intervention are important, so as to salvage the spleen and prevent complications. We present a case of torsion of a wandering spleen in a 21-year-old young woman, who presented with a painful pelvic mass. We also reviewed the literature on this entity.     

A case of wandering spleen: a rare cause of acute abdomen

We present the case of a 17-year-old patient known to have an asymptomatic ectopic spleen, who presented with an acute abdomen. Clinical symptoms and ultrasound led to suspect an acute appendicitis, confirmed later on by pathology. Twenty-four hours after the appendectomy, the patient complained of an abdominal pain of acute onset. Torsion of the pedicle of the ectopic spleen was suspected. Imaging studies supported this diagnosis, and an urgent splenectomy was performed. Did the torsion happen by simple coincidence 24 hours after appendectomy, knowing that the spleen has been asymptomatic for 17 years, or was it precipitated by the surgical intervention? Should we have removed the ectopic spleen during the appendectomy? This is the first report of a case of torsion of a wandering spleen after a laparotomy; a review of the literature is done in order to explain the physiopathology of the disease, and to propose its management.     

Recurrent abdominal pain in a woman with a wandering spleen

A 28-year-old Malay woman presented with recurrent abdominal pain for five years. She had delivered her child seven months earlier. She was found to have bicytopenia, with a haemoglobin level of 7.9 g/dL and a platelet count of 85 x 10(9)/L. Computed tomography revealed a wandering spleen. Complications of a wandering spleen, for which splenectomy is advocated, include functional asplenia (due to torsion of the splenic pedicle), splenic infarction or splenic vessel thrombosis. A splenectomy was performed and at operation, splenomegaly with a long mesentery was found. Splenic histology was negative for malignancy. The bicytopenia resolved postoperatively, and she remains well.     

Torsion of a wandering spleen

We present an unusual case of torsion of a wandering spleen in a 14 year old boy. Wandering spleen is an entity which has rarely been reported in infants and children. Although patients may be asymptomatic, some may present as an acute surgical emergency if trauma or torsion of the vascular pedicle occurs, as in our case. The treatment of this condition is splenectomy.     

Wandering spleen with torsion of the pedicle

Wandering spleen is a rare medical entity. It usually occurs at 20-40 years of age, and most cases are seen in women. Clinical diagnosis is difficult due to lack of symptoms, unless splenic torsion has occurred and clinical symptomatology of acute abdomen develops. The diagnosis can be confirmed by imaging techniques. Treatment is operative due to complications of splenic infarction. Splenopexy is the usual treatment, except for cases of splenic infarction. Splenectomy should be carried out when there is no evidence of splenic blood flow after detorsion of the spleen and in cases of excessive splenomegaly.     

Wandering spleen

Congenital malformations of the spleen are rare. We report 3 cases of wandering spleen presented as abdominal or pelvi-abdominal mass. Two patients were suffering from chronic lower abdominal pain with thrombosed splenic pedicle and the third patient had an acute abdomen. All patients underwent splenectomies. Abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography, Doppler ultrasound, and radioisotope studies were used to confirm the diagnosis. The clinical, diagnostic and treatment modalities are discussed.     

Torsion of a wandering spleen with whorled appearance of the splenic hilum in CT scan

An eight-year-old boy admitted for acute abdominal pain was diagnosed to have torsion of the spleen (TS) based on contrast enhanced computerised tomography (CECT) of the abdomen. CECT showed whorled appearance in the splenic hilum. Whorl sign' refers to the presence of a twisted splenic pedicle intermingled with fat, resulting in alternating circular bands of radiodensity and radiolucency and is considered diagnostic of TS. This is the fourth reported case of whorl sign in children with TS and the first from Malaysia.     

Multimodality imaging of splenic sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) is an exceedingly rare, benign and proliferative vascular lesion that arises from the splenic red pulp. It is often an incidental finding on imaging. The diagnosis of SANT is confirmed via histopathological examination of the resected spleen. Herein, we present a case of SANT and describe its typical imaging characteristics. An asymptomatic 39-year-old man was found to have a 3.1 cm × 2.7 cm × 2.3 cm hypoechoic splenic lesion during abdominal ultrasonography, which was performed to investigate his elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine transaminase levels. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography suggested a vascular splenic lesion, while magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated features consistent with SANT. In view of the increasing size of the lesion on follow-up imaging, the patient elected for splenectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed SANT, and the lesion was completely resected by laparoscopic splenectomy.     

Gastric variceal bleeding precipitated by a mycotic splenic arteriovenous fistula in a cirrhotic patient: radiological diagnosis and endovascular treatment

Splenic arteriovenous fistula (SAVF) is an unusual cause of portal hypertension, and is rarely associated with an infective aetiology. It is often difficult to identify SAVF clinically, and thus, radiological modalities are invariably required for diagnosis and treatment. We herein describe a case of SAVF occurring in a patient with compensated cirrhosis as a sequel to salmonella gastroenteritis, and presenting with acute gastric variceal bleeding. Selective transcatheter embolisation of the splenic artery was effective in controlling bleeding.     

Wandering spleen presenting as a right hypochondrial mass and intestinal obstruction

This is a case report of a 23 year old multiparous woman who presented with intestinal obstruction and a right hypochondrial mass. Laparatomy revealed an infarcted 1.4 Kg spleen in the right lumbar region compressing the ascending colon. There was also ileal volvulus around the splenic pedicle. This is probably the first documented case of wandering spleen in the right hypochondrium, presenting as right large bowel obstruction, to be reported in our region. Wandering spleen is a rare condition, often asymptomatic, but may present as an acute abdomen. Pre-operative diagnosis is difficult and rarely made. Laboratory tests are seldom useful, but imaging studies do assist. Up to 1971 only 350 cases had been reported in the western literature. Review of English literature from 1900 to 1991 reported only 51 cases in children. In our region 11 cases were reported in Uganda between 1968 and 1971. No other literature is available from our region. Clinical presentation, aetiology, investigation, and management of wandering spleen is discussed.     

Unsuspected colorectal carcinoma on routine abdominopelvic computed tomography

Colorectal carcinoma is a common lethal disease with signs and symptoms that may be nonspecific. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis with or without contrast is frequently performed for various general abdominal complaints, but unlike CT colonography, the large bowel may not be optimally prepared for evaluation. As such, careful and diligent assessment of the non-prepared colon in all CT images of the abdomen and pelvis is important, as it ensures that incidental colorectal malignancy is not missed, especially in older patients. This article gives an overview of multidetector CT imaging signs and subtle clues to aid in the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, as well as their pitfalls.     

Anticoagulation in the treatment of portovenous emboli after cyanoacrylate injection for a bleeding gastric varix

We herein report the use of endoscopic n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injections to obliterate a gastric varix, which led to cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins in a single patient. Cyanoacrylate embolisation is a known but uncommonly reported complication of endoscopic sclerotherapy. This case report illustrates the successful management of this complication (i.e. cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins) with anticoagulation and analyses the presentation and management of other cases of cyanoacrylate embolisation reported in the literature.     

Imaging of the spleen: what the clinician needs to know

The spleen is considered ‘the forgotten organ’ among radiologists and clinicians, although it is well visualised on abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, the spleen is commonly involved in a wide range of pathologic disorders. These include congenital anomalies, infectious and inflammatory diseases, vascular disorders, benign and malignant tumours, and systemic disorders. In this review, we focus on the key imaging findings of the normal spleen, its variants, as well as relevant congenital and acquired abnormalities. It is of utmost importance to recognise and correctly interpret the variable spectrum of abnormalities that may involve the spleen, in order to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures and to guide adequate treatment.     

Intra-arterial calcium stimulation test with hepatic venous sampling for preoperative diagnosis of a large insulinoma in an obese young man

Herein, we report the case of a large benign insulinoma in an obese young man with a three-year history of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia. He presented to our outpatient department with a two-week history of dizziness and morning cold sweats. A random serum glucose test revealed hypoglycaemia. Upon admission, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen with intravenous contrast media showed an enhancing mass lesion in the uncinate process of the pancreas. To confirm the diagnosis, an intra-arterial calcium stimulation test with hepatic venous sampling was performed for preoperative localisation and to exclude the presence of occult insulinomas. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, with successful resection of the pancreatic head tumour. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. The patient’s postoperative recovery was uneventful, and he has not developed further episodes of hypoglycaemia three years post surgery.     

Recurrent and persistent pityriasis rosea: an atypical case presentation

We report a case of atypical pityriasis rosea in a 24-year-old Malay man. He presented with an 11-month history of three recurrent and persistent episodes of pityriasis rosea associated with oral ulcers. The first episode lasted for one month and recurred within 14 days. The second episode lasted for three months and recurred within nine days. The third episode lasted for seven months. Although all three episodes were not preceded by any prodromal symptoms, a herald patch was noted on three different sites (the left iliac fossa, abdomen and chest) on each successive episode. Recurrent pityriasis rosea and its association with oral ulcers, although quite uncommon, have been reported in the literature. However, reports of multiple recurrences, with prolonged duration of each episode and very short remissions in between, have not been made. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such unique presentation.     

Primary omental torsion in a child: mimic acute appendicitis

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Splenic rupture in a patient with pelvic abscess and sepsis

A 49-year-old man underwent appendicectomy through a Lanz incision for necrotic appendicitis. He subsequently developed pelvic abscess in the postoperative period, which was drained under computed tomography (CT) guidance. The bacteriology of pus swabs taken during appendicectomy and abscess drainage revealed coliforms. Six days after appendicectomy, the patient had an acute collapse due to rupture of the spleen, which was treated by splenectomy. CT of the abdomen at the time of abscess drainage had confirmed a normal spleen. Histopathological examination of the spleen revealed nonspecific acute splenitis--red pulp congested and infiltrated with neutrophils complicated by rupture. We postulate the abdominal source of sepsis and associated inflammatory response as the cause for the splenic pathology and rupture.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with pituitary adenoma: can alertness prevent tragedy?

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare, life-threatening complication that may occur after coronary artery bypass graft surgery for patients with pituitary adenomas. The dynamics of cardiopulmonary bypass may contribute to a sudden expansion of silent pituitary adenomas and result in the compression of surrounding structures. A range of clinical features have been described, and the condition requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications. Herein, we present an uncomplicated case highlighting the importance of diagnosing pituitary apoplexy, ensuring high alertness to the condition, so as to prevent life-threatening tragedy due to missed diagnosis.     

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (157). Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreatic tail.

A 50-year-old Chinese man presented to the clinic with left hypochondrial pain, more than 10 kg of weight loss over a 3-month period, and a firm, large, ill-defined mass in the left upper quadrant. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a well-circumscribed exophytic pancreatic mass with features suggestive of acinar cell carcinoma (ACC). The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with no evidence of local recurrence detected at one-year follow-up. He remains under close surveillance by his oncologist. Treatment for ACC includes surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy. Better overall survival is seen in patients with surgically resectable ACC as compared to those with the more common ductal cell carcinoma.