A rare case of wandering spleen with splenomegaly in a postpartum female patient: A case report and literature review

Abstract

BackgroundWandering spleen or hypermobile spleen results from the elongation or maldevelopment of the spleen's suspensory ligaments. Few cases have been reported worldwide, making it a rare clinical entity. It usually affects children, although it also commonly affects female adults in the reproductive age range. Case presentationA 30-year-old para 2 female patient presented with left upper quadrant abdominal pain of 3 days duration. She gave birth to a living baby 4 months before her current presentation. Her abdomen was distended, and there was a palpable mass on the central abdomen area. CT showed absence of spleen in the splenic fossa anterior to the left kidney, a wandering spleen with no attachment, and a whirl sign. The patient was managed with splenectomy and autotransplantation. DiscussionWandering spleen is one of the rare surgical conditions. The majority of affected females are multiparous, and women between the ages of 20 and 40 are approximately 13 times more likely than men to present with this condition. Ligamentous laxity of the spleen can be caused by physiologic splenomegaly and hormonal changes during pregnancy. ConclusionWandering spleen associated with splenomegaly is a rare clinical condition. These patients require a cautious approach due to the hypermobile spleen's propensity for torsion and infarction.