An Incidental Finding of Situs Ambiguus with Polysplenia in an Asymptomatic 70-Year-Old Male

Abstract

The term “Situs ambiguus” describes the configuration when some, but not all thoracic and abdominal organs are abnormally positioned. It is commonly associated with polysplenia, or multiple spleens. 50-100% of situs ambiguus with polysplenia have associated cardiac malformations [1]. We present a 70 year old male who came to our hospital for complete, acute, urinary retention, and was found to have invasive prostate cancer. Incidentally, the liver was positioned on the left side, and the spleen was located on the right side. There were multiple perisplenic nodular formations with peripheral calcifications that had enhancement kinetics similar to those of the spleen, suggesting polysplenia. In low thoracic cuts, the tip of the heart was clearly on the left side. The presence of situs ambiguus with polysplenia in the absence of cardiac abnormalities makes this case a unique presentation of an already rare condition. Clinicians should regularly consider the possibilities of anatomical variation in their medical and surgical practices.