[Torsion of an ectopic spleen presented as an acute abdomen]

Ectopic spleen is rare and its acute torsion may be fatal while its correct and early diagnosis continues to represent a challenge especially in children. We are reporting a case of a 9 year-old female patient with a one month history of colicky intermittent abdominal pain and whose physical examination revealed a diffuse abdominal tenderness with a large peri-umbilical abdominal mass. A preoperative diagnosis of acute torsion of ectopic spleen was suspected and was confirmed at laparotomy as the spleen pedicle was found twisted. The spleen was congested and gangrenous indicating a splenectomy.