Abstract
A 75-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented clinically with urinary frequency was found on physical examination to have a pelvic mass. Ultrasound and computed tomography showed it to be due to a large ectopic spleen lying in the pelvis behind the bladder and compressing it anteriorly. The spleen became smaller and the symptoms regressed with chemotherapy. We review the features of an ectopic spleen as seen on diagnostic imaging studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atlas SW, Rochester D, Panella JS, Larson R: The utility of ultrasound in the diagnosis of wandering abdominal viscera.J Clin Ultrasound 13:275–277, 1985
Carswell JW: Wandering spleen: 11 cases from Uganda.Br J Surg 61:495–497, 1974
Gordon DH, Burrell MI, Levin DC, Mueller CF, Becker JA: Wandering spleen—the radiological and clinical spectrum.Radiology 125:39–45, 1977
Hunter TB, Harber K: Sonographic diagnosis of wandering spleen.Am J Roentgenol 129:925–926, 1977
Parker LA, Mittlestaedt CA, Mauro MA, Mandell VS, Jaques PF: Torsion of a wandering spleen: CT appearance.J Comput Assist Tomogr 8:1201–1204, 1984
Sheflin JR, Lee CM, Kretchmar KA: Torsion of wandering spleen and distal pancreas.AJR 142:100–101, 1984
Hatfield PM, Clouse ME, Cady B: Ectopic pelvic spleen.Arch Surg 111:603–605, 1976
Emmett JM, Dreyfuss ML: Accessory spleen in the scrotum. Review of literature on ectopic spleens and their associated surgical significance.Ann Surg 117:754–759, 1943
Mendes R, Morrow JW: Ectopic spleen simulating testicular tumor.J Urol 102:598–601, 1969
McLean GH, Alavi A, Ziegler MM, Pollack HM, Duckett JW: Spleno-gonadal fusion: identification by radionuclide scanning.J Pediatr Surg 16:649–651, 1981
Heloury Y, Valayer J, Leborgne J, Rogez JM, Robert R, Barbin JY: Spleno-gonadal fusion: anatomic and angiographic study of a case.Surg Radiol Anat 8:147–151, 1986
Tank ES, Forsythe M: Splenic gonadal fusion.J Urol 139:798–799, 1988
Sorgen RA, Robbins DI: Bleeding gastric varices secondary to wandering spleen.Gastrointest Radiol 5:25–27, 1980
Samuel N, Feldberg D, Dicker D, Goldman JA: Acute urinary retention as presenting symptom of torsion of a wandering spleen.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 19:109–111, 1985
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nino-Murcia, M., Friedland, G.W. & Gross, D. Imaging the effects of an ectopic spleen on the urinary tract. Urol Radiol 10, 195–197 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02926568
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02926568