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 infection, malignancies, liver disease, and parasites.

Symptoms of splenomegaly include:

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

• Infections
  • Infectious mononucleosis (EBV or CMV)
  • Other viral infections
  • Parasitic infections
  • Cat scratch disease
  • Bacterial infections
• Diseases involving the liver
  • Cirrhosis (portal vein obstruction, portal hypertension)
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
  • Wilson's disease
  • Biliary atresia
  • Cystic fibrosis
• Hemolytic anemias
  • Thalassemia
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
  • Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Immune hemolytic anemia
• Cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Hodgkin's disease
• Other causes
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Sickle cell splenic crisis
  • Felty syndrome

Review Date: 09/29/2006
Reviewed By: Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard University; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.