{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T12:31:04Z","timestamp":1782304264544,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755561600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755561600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Pediatr"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity characterized by abnormal mobility of the spleen due to laxity or absence of its supporting ligaments. In pediatric patients, this condition can present with vague abdominal symptoms or acute torsion leading to infarction, posing a significant diagnostic challenge. Early identification through imaging and timely intervention are crucial to preserve splenic function. Conducted in a tertiary care setting, we report three pediatric cases of wandering spleen, each illustrating a different clinical course and surgical management strategy. The first case involved a 13-year-old girl with progressive abdominal pain and vomiting, ultimately requiring splenectomy after unsuccessful detorsion attempts. The second case featured a 10-year-old girl with a previously known pelvic spleen who underwent successful laparotomy and splenopexy upon finding a partially viable spleen. The third case involved a 3-year-old girl with fever, acute pain, and imaging evidence of an ectopic spleen; intraoperative detorsion and splenopexy preserved splenic tissue, underscoring the importance of salvage when possible. These cases highlight the variable presentation of wandering spleen, the pivotal role of imaging in diagnosis, and underscore that splenic salvage should be prioritized whenever feasible to maintain immunologic function. Splenopexy remains the preferred option for viable spleens, while splenectomy is reserved for nonviable organs, with adequate follow-up essential to monitor for potential postoperative complications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T11:48:14Z","timestamp":1755604094000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The enigmatic wandering spleen: managing three cases in a tertiary setting"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Mohammed","family":"Al Blooshi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdalla","family":"Aboelkheir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Avinash","family":"Hiremath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ghadir","family":"Jaber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mamoun","family":"AlMarzouqi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"6005_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1186\/s13256-024-05003-2","volume":"19","author":"AG Wubie","year":"2025","unstructured":"Wubie AG, Yirga B, Goedert MH. Splenic infarction following torsion of wandering spleen involving pancreatic tail successfully managed in a resource-limited setting: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2025;19:41. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13256-024-05003-2.","journal-title":"J Med Case Rep"},{"key":"6005_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.65607","author":"N Arora","year":"2024","unstructured":"Arora N, Dhawan S. Splenic abscesses in the pediatric population: A literature review of an uncommon entity. Cureus. 2024. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7759\/cureus.65607.","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"6005_CR3","unstructured":"Hoagland TM. Spleen Anatomy. Medscape Reference. 2025. Available at: https:\/\/emedicine.medscape.com\/article\/1948863-overview."},{"key":"6005_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1429490","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2024.1429490","volume":"12","author":"Q Cui","year":"2024","unstructured":"Cui Q, Xu X, Li C, Tang L. Wandering spleen combined with pedicle torsion and splenic infarction: a rare case report and literature review. Front Pediatr. 2024;12:1429490. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fped.2024.1429490.","journal-title":"Front Pediatr"},{"issue":"4","key":"6005_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"468","DOI":"10.1089\/lap.2020.0759","volume":"31","author":"A Ganarin","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ganarin A, Fascetti Leon F, La Pergola E, Gamba P. Surgical approach of wandering spleen in infants and children: a systematic review. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2021;31(4):468\u201377. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/lap.2020.0759.","journal-title":"J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A"},{"issue":"1","key":"6005_CR6","first-page":"58","volume":"10","author":"A Mohammadi","year":"2015","unstructured":"Mohammadi A, Ghasemi-rad M. Wandering spleen: whirlpool appearance in color Doppler ultrasonography. Maedica. 2015;10(1):58\u201360.","journal-title":"Maedica"},{"key":"6005_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3099","DOI":"10.1097\/MS9.0000000000001960","volume":"86","author":"O Rasheed","year":"2024","unstructured":"Rasheed O, Wassouf A, Abo Al Shamat A, et al. Wandering spleen in a postpartum female: a case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024;86:3099\u2013102. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/MS9.0000000000001960.","journal-title":"Ann Med Surg (Lond)"},{"issue":"7","key":"6005_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2864","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radcr.2024.03.004","volume":"19","author":"D Ferrara","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ferrara D, Vallone G, Russo S, et al. Volvulus of a wandering spleen in a pediatric patient. Radiol Case Rep. 2024;19(7):2864\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.radcr.2024.03.004.","journal-title":"Radiol Case Rep"},{"key":"6005_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/vor.2022.0023","author":"KN Patterson","year":"2022","unstructured":"Patterson KN, Drews J, Minneci PC. Laparoscopic splenopexy in a pediatric patient with wandering spleen. Videoscopy. 2022. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/vor.2022.0023.","journal-title":"Videoscopy"},{"key":"6005_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.4103\/jmas.JMAS_14_18","volume":"15","author":"G Alqadi","year":"2019","unstructured":"Alqadi G, Saxena A. Is laparoscopic approach for wandering spleen in children an option? J Minim Access Surg. 2019;15:93\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jmas.JMAS_14_18.","journal-title":"J Minim Access Surg"},{"key":"6005_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.21037\/ales.2018.05.09","volume":"3","author":"A Shakoor","year":"2018","unstructured":"Shakoor A, DeFazio J, Zenilman A, Li L, Duron VP. Laparoscopic splenopexy utilizing an extraperitoneal pocket for symptomatic wandering spleen. Ann Laparosc Endosc Surg. 2018;3:53. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21037\/ales.2018.05.09.","journal-title":"Ann Laparosc Endosc Surg"},{"key":"6005_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijscr.2025.111144","volume":"129","author":"H Melkamu","year":"2025","unstructured":"Melkamu H, Yohannes B, Asefa D, et al. Torsion of a wandering spleen, a rare cause of acute abdomen: a case report. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2025;129: 111144. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijscr.2025.111144.","journal-title":"Int J Surg Case Rep"},{"key":"6005_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5348\/101203Z01WS2021CR","volume":"12","author":"W Sergi","year":"2021","unstructured":"Sergi W, D\u2019Ugo S, Marchese TRL, Garritano S, Perrone F, Manoochehri F, Spampinato M. Colonic obstruction caused by wandering spleen: case report and literature review. Int J Case Rep Images. 2021;12: 101203. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5348\/101203Z01WS2021CR.","journal-title":"Int J Case Rep Images"},{"key":"6005_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/lap.2020.0759","author":"A Ganarin","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ganarin A, Fascetti Leon F, La Pergola E, Gamba P. Surgical approach of wandering spleen in infants and children: a systematic review. 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Available at: https:\/\/www.formularywkccgmtw.co.uk\/media\/1552\/splenectomy-updated-dec2019.pdf."}],"container-title":["BMC Pediatrics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T11:48:15Z","timestamp":1755604095000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["6005"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12887-025-06005-9","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-6833534\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1471-2431"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1471-2431","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]]},"assertion":[{"value":"6 June 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"25 July 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"19 August 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This case series was deemed exempt from full review under our institution\u2019s policy for single-patient\/low-risk reports; written informed consent for publication of clinical details and images was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of all three patients.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Written informed consent was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of all three pediatric patients described in this manuscript. The hospital\u2019s general consent form, signed upon admission, and an additional surgical consent form both include permission to use anonymized patient information for research and publication. The identities of the patients were not revealed, and any images or data in this manuscript do not contain identifiable personal information.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"631"}}