Infarcted ectopic spleen presenting as retroperitoneal mass

Wandering or ectopic spleen is an exceptionally rare condition. Because of the abnormally long pedicle, an ectopic spleen is prone to torsion and infarction. Patients can present with abdominal pain or an acute abdomen. The incidence is over a wide age range, but it occurs with a female predominance in the third to fifth decades. We present a case in a 26-year-old female of an infarcted ectopic spleen, initially thought to be a retroperitoneal mass on computed tomography scan, but found at surgery in the lower abdomen. The minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon needs to be aware of this entity, which may rarely be encountered.