Case of the Month

• Splenic torsion with emphysematous spleen and moderate to severe associated peritoneal effusion and/or diffuse abdominal steatitis. Splenic emphysema either secondary to splenic necrosis or due to underlying splenitis with gas producing bacteria such as Clostridium species.

• Hypovolemia.

• Emergency exploratory celiotomy after stabilization advised.

• Culture of the peritoneal effusion and spleen advised.

• No follow up was provided for this case.

• Some literature:

  • Emphysematous splenic torsion in a German shepherd dog

  • Radiographic signs of isolated splenic torsion in dogs: Eight cases (1980–1987)

  • Spontaneous emphysematous splenitis: Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in three Golden Retriever dogs

Abdomen in 3 projections of a skeletally mature dog in normal body condition.

Musculoskeletal structures within normal limits.

Diaphragm delineable.  Included caudal aspect of the thoracic cavity with thin caudal vena cava.

Retroperitoneal detail maintained.

Peritoneal detail generalized severely reduced and mildly patchy, mostly in the right cranial and right central aspect of the abdomen.

Malpositioned spleen with the splenic head displacement on the right and the splenic body in the right cranioventral aspect of the abdomen with a reverse C shape. Spleen generalized moderate enlarged and severely emphysematous with generalized vesicular pattern.  Additional very mild free peritoneal gas around the spleen or subcapsular splenic gas likely.  Moderate to severe associated mass effect with displacement towards the left of the stomach, small bowel loops, and liver.

Liver not completely delineable due to border effacement with the spleen and due to the peritoneal detail loss, but as far as assessable not extending caudally to the rib cage.

Kidneys within normal limits.  Urinary bladder not delineable.

Stomach mildly to moderately filled with gas and moderately displaced towards the left.  Gas distribution in the fundus and antrum in the lateral projections within normal limits.  Small bowel loops mostly empty. Few small bowel loops very mildly filled with gas but not distended. Colon mildly diffuse filled with gas and a not completely delineable.

Splenic torsion with emphysematous spleen and moderate to severe associated peritoneal effusion and/or diffuse abdominal steatitis. Splenic emphysema either secondary to splenic necrosis or due to underlying splenitis with gas producing bacteria such as Clostridium species.

Hypovolemia.

Emergency exploratory celiotomy after stabilization advised.

Culture of the peritoneal effusion and spleen advised.