A wandering spleen: A common presentation of an uncommon anomaly

Anthony C Ugwu, Ogbonna Chukwudi, Augustine O Imo

Abstract


Background: With the advent of real time ultrasonography of the abdomen, the spleen is no longer an inaccessible organ. Wandering spleen is a rare entity with only less than 500 cases reported so far.

Method: This case report presents a 16-year- old Nigerian girl admitted in a medical centre but referred for ultrasonography on account of a clinical history of lower abdominal tenderness.

Result: Ultrasonography examination revealed that the spleen was not found in its normal anatomical position. However, a well acoustic signature of the spleen was seen in the pelvis.

Conclusion: Ultrasonography which is far cheaper than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) is a valuable diagnostic aid in this condition.

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SA Fam Pract | ISSN: 1726-426X


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