title: The value of MR angiography in predicting the risk of torsion of a pelvic spleen during pregnancy.
abstract: A case of an enlarged pelvic spleen, studied with MRI and MR angiography (MRA), is presented in a 32-year-old female wishing to become pregnant. An ectopic located spleen may be complicated by an acute abdomen due to torsion of the splenic vascular pedicle, resulting in splenic infarction. Displacement of the spleen and splenic pedicle during pregnancy may further increase the risk of torsion. Urgent splenectomy during pregnancy is associated with a high fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. On the other hand, elective splenectomy of a pelvic spleen before pregnancy can result in adhesion formation, compromising the patient's fertility. The abilities of MRI and MRA in predicting the risk of these life-threatening complications during pregnancy are discussed, in order to evaluate the benefit-risk ratio of surgical treatment by splenectomy of splenopexia.
authors.affiliation: Department of CT-MRI, Larissa General Hospital, 1 Tsakalof Street, 41221 Larissa, Greece. apolsen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Karantanas
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stagianis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002828:Choristoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D010388:Pelvis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013154:Spleen; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000175:diagnosis