Abstract
Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity characterized by spleen hypermobility due
to lack or weakness of one or more splenic ligaments. We report two patients with
the diagnosis of wandering spleen with portal and mesenteric varices. A 16 year-old girl presented with abdominal pain, an abdominal mass and pancytopenia. A
12 year-old girl presented with an abdominal mass only. Imaging studies revealed both
patients had a viable but torsed wandering spleen in association with portal, splenic
and mesenteric varices. Both were treated with splenectomy and had resolution of their
symptoms. Imaging confirmed complete resolution of all varices at 30 month and 11 year follow up respectively. These cases represent the first report of a wandering
spleen causing portal and mesenteric venous partial obstruction leading to varices;
splenectomy resolved these findings post-operatively.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 14,
2012
Received in revised form:
December 13,
2012
Received:
August 8,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.