Abdominal pain and wandering spleen in young children: the importance of an early diagnosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to increase clinical awareness of torsion of wandering spleen (WS) in childhood and the need of a rapid diagnosis.

METHODS

Four cases operated for torsion of WS are retrospectively reviewed. Ages at presentation were, respectively, 30 months, 5 years, 4 years, and 3 years, without sex preference. All subjects led a history of abdominal pain and a mass on physical examination.

RESULTS

Torsion of WS should be suspected in any child presenting with acute abdomen. Moreover, in case of acute abdomen and intermittent abdominal pain, we suggest studying spleen position with ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography with color Doppler is the best choice for diagnosis of torsion of WS. Computed tomography is a good complementary examination, but it needs to submit young patients to a general anesthesia and delays an emergency situation.