Torsion of a wandering spleen as a cause of portal hypertension and mesenteric varices: a rare aetiology

Laparoscopic exploration of a wandering spleen in a complex adolescent case with sigmoid volvulus and left-side portal hypertension: a case report

Wandering spleen (WS) is a rare condition characterized by the hypermobility of the spleen due to the absence or abnormal flexibility of suspensory ligaments. We present a 16-year-old female presented with intermittent abdominal pain, constipation, and a palpable mass in the right iliac fossa. Imaging revealed a WS associated with sigmoid volvulus and portal hypertension. Despite a decade of symptoms, the patient remained undiagnosed. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed successfully, addressing both WS and sigmoid volvulus. The patient's symptoms resolved, and she was discharged in good condition. This case emphasizes the need for clinical awareness of WS in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. It highlights the role of imaging in prompt diagnosis and the necessity of surgical intervention. Our case sheds light on the association of WS with other conditions, providing clinicians with valuable insights for effective management.

Splenectomy for Torsion of a Wandering Spleen in a Patient with Myeloproliferative Disease

We herein report a rare case of torsion of a wandering spleen in a patient with myeloproliferative disease. A 66-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital with abdominal pain and a fever. She had a medical history of polycythemia and secondary myelofibrosis. Abdominal enhanced computed tomography showed an enlarged spleen without enhancement in the lower pelvic region. The clinical diagnosis was severe torsion of a wandering spleen in a patient with myeloproliferative disease, necessitating surgical intervention. Splenectomy was performed after de-rotating to revascularize the spleen. After the operation, the platelet count gradually increased, and aspirin was administered to prevent thrombosis.

Dwarfism associated with wandering splenomegaly

Dwarfism associated with splenomegaly during teenage years is known. The purpose of this report was to present the first case of dwarfism associated with wandering splenomegaly. A 14-year-old boy presented a wandering splenomegaly and torsion of the splenic pedicle associated with a retarded growth and sexual underdevelopment characterized by lack of sexual maturity and absence of secondary sexual physical appearance. The patient was submitted to detorsion of the spleen, and splenopexy. After the surgery, the patient grew up, and his sexual characteristics developed to normal. The size of the spleen reduced from the 22 × 16 × 13 cm to 14 × 12 × 10 cm after the surgical procedure. This is the first report of dwarfism associated with wandering splenomegaly, which was successfully treated without partial or total splenectomy. After releasing the venous blood flow, the spleen reduced its dimension and the patient grew up to the expected family size.

Wandering splenomegaly reduction after splenopexy

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

A wandering spleen is characterized by excessive splenic mobility due to the laxity of its ligaments, which leads to spleen migration and its long mobile vascular pedicle is liable to torsion. The purpose of this paper was to present a wandering splenomegaly reduction after splenic detorsion and splenopexy.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 14-year-old boy presented a symptomatic visible pelvic wandering splenomegaly with torsion of the splenic pedicle. He was submitted to laparotomy, detorsion of the spleen, and splenopexy to the left diaphragm and surrounded peritoneum. The patient had an uneventful follow-up and was discharged from the hospital on the second postoperative day. All laboratory exams went to normal. The size of the spleen reduced from the 22 × 16 × 13 cm before the treatment to 14 × 12 × 10 cm after the surgical procedure.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The most relevant aspect of this communication is the reduction of the huge splenomegaly to a normal size spleen after detorsion of the splenic vessels and splenopexy to the left diaphragm. Reduction of the splenic size is well-known after distal splenorenal shunt, but this is the first publication of a spontaneous splenic size reduction after treating a congestive wandering splenomegaly by detorsion of the spleen pedicle.

CONCLUSION

Ectopic congestive splenomegaly due to the splenic pedicle rotation is adequately treated by splenic detorsion and splenopexy in its proper subdiaphragmatic site, which reduces the splenic size to normal.

Torsion of spleen and portal hypertension: Pathophysiology and clinical implications

The displacement of spleen from its normal location to other places is known as wandering spleen (WS) and is a rare disease. The repeated torsion of WS is due to the presence of long pedicle and absence/laxity of anchoring ligaments. A WS is an extremely rare cause of left-sided portal hypertension (PHT) and severe gastric variceal bleeding. Left-sided PHT usually occurs as a result of splenic vein occlusion caused by splenic torsion, extrinsic compression of the splenic pedicle by enlarged spleen, and splenic vein thrombosis. There is a paucity of data on WS-related PHT, and these data are mostly in the form of case reports. In this review, we have analyzed the data of 20 reported cases of WS-related PHT. The mechanisms of pathogenesis, clinico-demographic profile, and clinical implications are described in this article. The majority of patients were diagnosed in the second to third decade of life (mean age: 26 years), with a strong female preponderance (M:F = 1:9). Eleven of the 20 WS patients with left-sided PHT presented with abdominal pain and mass. In 6 of the 11 patients, varices were detected incidentally on preoperative imaging studies or discovered intraoperatively. Therefore, pre-operative search for varices is required in patients with splenic torsion.

Infarcted wandering spleen: A case report from Saudi Arabia

Spleen is normally positioned in the left upper quadrant. Abnormal location where it is not found in its normal anatomical position is called wandering spleen (WS). Wandering spleen is a rare medical condition that occurs due to developmental abnormality or acquired laxity of the ligaments that hold the spleen in its normal anatomical position. It affects children and young adults, especially childbearing age women. Patients affected with this condition may present with nonspecific symptoms requiring a high index of suspicion. Here, we are presenting a 20-year-old female known to have WS ended up with infarcted WS requiring emergency splenectomy.

Torsion of the wandering spleen as an abdominal emergency: a case report

Background

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity with a less than 0.2% reporting incidence rate. In this case, the spleen is present abnormally in the abdominal or pelvic cavity instead of its normal anatomical location. The aetiology is either congenital or acquired. The condition is caused by the absence or maldevelopment of the spleen's suspensory ligaments, which holds the spleen static in the left hypochondrium.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and constipation for three days. A palpable movable mass was found during the physical examination, and torsion of the wandering spleen’s pedicle was confirmed by CT scan. Open splenectomy was performed, and the patient was recovered uneventfully.

Conclusion

Even though ectopic spleen is a rare disease, clinicians should be aware of its incidence. Early diagnosis in the case of an acute abdomen is vital for the preservation of the spleen. Patients presented with acute abdomen and absence of splenic shadow under left hemidiaphragm should be suspected, and further radiological investigation will confirm the diagnosis. Surgery is the gold standard for wandering spleen with either splenopexy or splenectomy, depending on the spleen's condition during surgery.