Wandering Spleen: An Overview

An ectopic (or “wandering”) spleen results from abnormal ligamentous laxity failing to fixate the spleen in its normal location in the left upper quadrant. Ligamentous laxity can be acquired due to conditions, such as splenomegaly or pregnancy, but is often congenital. Because of this laxity, there is an elongated vascular pedicle, which is prone to torsion and resultant splenic infarction. These patients generally present with abdominal pain and other nonspecific symptoms making the diagnosis very difficult to make clinically. As such, the radiologist plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and care of these patients, as often the diagnosis is only considered after imaging.