Wandering spleen: A surgical enigma

Abstract

Wandering spleen, also referred to as ‘ptotic spleen’, is a rare clinical condition characterized by splenic migration form its normal left hypochondrial position to any other abdominal or pelvic position. Among the multifactorial etiologies proposed, laxity of the spleen’s primary supporting ligaments is the most agreed-upon hypothesis. We present one rare case of wandering spleen in an 11-year-old girl who presented with recurrent abdominal pain with no localizing features. Her abdominal examination revealed an intra-abdominal left iliac fossa lump with restricted mobility, which was confirmed as a wandering spleen by abdominal sonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Intraoperatively, an infarcted spleen was encountered with tortuous, elongated, torsional splenic pedicle and a single dense adhesive band with descending colon. Splenectomy was offered to the patient. Post-operatively, the patient is healthy and symptom free at one-year follow-up. The rare clinical diagnosis of this condition, particularly in the paediatric age-group, makes it an enigma for the surgical world.