[Ectopic or migrating spleen and supernumerary spleens: detection and identification with 99mTc, 51Cr and 113In radioisotopes].

Congenital malformations of the spleen are rare. We report a patient with an ectopic spleen located in the left iliac fossa, which was excised in order to prevent severe complications such as torsion of the pedicle, rupture or infection. A second patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura presented with an accessory spleen located retroperitoneally. Removal of this spleen following removal of the normotopic one resulted in cure of purpura. The clinical, radiological and radioisotopic studies used to locate and identify these malformations are described.