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Wandering spleen in children: a report of 3 cases and a brief literature review underlining the importance of diagnostic imaging

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Abstract

Background

Wandering spleen is a rare condition in children that is often caused by loss or weakening of the splenic ligaments. Its clinical presentation is variable; 64% of children with wandering spleen have splenic torsion as a complication.

Objective

To provide up-to-date information on the diagnosis, clinical management and diagnostic imaging approaches for wandering spleen in infants and children and to underline the importance of color Doppler US and CT in providing important information for patient management.

Materials and methods

We report a series of three children with wandering spleen treated at our children’s hospital over the last 6 years. All three underwent clinical evaluation, color Doppler US and CT and were surgically treated. We also reviewed 40 articles that included 55 patients younger than 18 years reported in the Medline database from 2002 to 2012.

Results

We correlated pathological data with imaging findings. Color Doppler US, the first imaging modality in investigating abdominal symptoms in children with suspected wandering spleen, yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 54.9%, whereas CT achieved about 71.7%.

Conclusion

Radiologic evaluation has a major role in confirming the diagnosis of a suspected wandering spleen and avoiding potentially life-threatening complications requiring immediate surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, P.zza S. Onofrio, 4-00165, Rome, Italy

    Roberta Lombardi, Laura Menchini, Teresa Corneli, Andrea Magistrelli, Lidia Monti & Paolo Tomà

  2. Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Antonella Accinni

Authors
  1. Roberta Lombardi
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  2. Laura Menchini
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  3. Teresa Corneli
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  4. Andrea Magistrelli
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  5. Antonella Accinni
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  6. Lidia Monti
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  7. Paolo Tomà
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Correspondence to Roberta Lombardi.

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Lombardi, R., Menchini, L., Corneli, T. et al. Wandering spleen in children: a report of 3 cases and a brief literature review underlining the importance of diagnostic imaging. Pediatr Radiol 44, 279–288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-013-2851-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-013-2851-6

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