Wandering spleen presenting as recurrent pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION

A wandering spleen occurs when there is a laxity of the ligaments that fix the spleen in its normal anatomical position.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a wandering spleen in a 20-year-old female who presented with recurrent pancreatitis and underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy.

DISCUSSION: The presentation of a wandering spleen varies from an asymptomatic mass to splenic infarct with an acute abdomen. Its correct diagnosis relies mostly on imaging studies. Treatment consists of performing either splenectomy or splenopexy.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of wandering spleen can often be difficult due to the intermittent nature of the torsion. Computed tomography studies for diagnosis and laparoscopic surgery have changed the management of this interesting disease.