Wu Tangna, Chen Shaopiao, Qin Lingling, Zhang Min
Department of Ultrasonography, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, P. R. China.
Department of Ultrasonography, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, P. R. China.
J Emerg Med. 2023 Oct;65(4):e330-e334. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.06.003. Epub 2023 Jun 23.
A wandering spleen (WS) is a rare clinical entity characterized by a spleen located in the lower part of the abdomen or the pelvic cavity rather than the normal anatomical site. The complications of a wandering spleen include splenic torsion, splenic infarction, and adjacent visceral injury.
We present a case of a male patient admitted to the emergency department with vomiting, nausea, and persistent lower abdominal pain. Computed tomography and ultrasound were performed and were used to diagnose a wandering spleen with torsion leading to splenic infarctions. Subsequently, laparoscopic surgery and pathology confirmed this diagnosis. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Ultrasound and computed tomography scans play a significant role in diagnosing WS and its complications, allowing an emergency physician to establish treatment options for WS.