Splenic emergencies.

Of medical and surgical emergencies in the pediatric abdomen, those involving the spleen are relatively less common than other abdominal organs, though equally important to recognize. A more sophisticated clinical understanding of the important role of the spleen in immunocompetence has developed in parallel with advancements in imaging. A healthy respect for the preservation of splenic tissue has emerged, altering traditional surgical management of splenic emergencies. Non-invasive imaging has come to play a vital role in depicting acute abnormalities and in determining the need for conservative, interventional, or surgical management.