Splenomegaly

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Enlarged spleen

Splenomegaly

Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen beyond its normal size.

Spleen enlargement; Enlarged spleen

The spleen is an organ that is a part of the lymph system. It filters the blood and maintains healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.

Because of its wide variety of functions, the spleen may be affected by many conditions involving the blood or lymph system, and by infections, malignancies, and liver disease.

Symptoms of splenomegaly include:

• Hiccups
• Inability to eat a large meal
• Pain on the upper left side of the abdomen

• Infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Cat scratch disease
  • Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr Virus or Cytomegalovirus)
  • Other viral infections
  • Parasitic infections
• Diseases involving the liver
  • Biliary atresia
  • Cirrhosis (alcoholic cirrhosis)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Portal hypertension
  • Portal vein obstruction
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
• Blood diseases
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
  • Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Immune hemolytic anemia
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Thalassemia
• Cancer
• Hodgkin's disease
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Other causes
• Felty syndrome
• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Sarcoidosis
• Sickle cell splenic crisis

Review Date: 02/09/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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