Splenomegaly

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**Splenomegaly**
*Classifications and external resources*
ICD-10	R 16.1
ICD-9	789.2
DiseasesDB	12375
MedlinePlus	003276
eMedicine	ped/2139 med/2156
MeSH	C23.300.775.750

Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen, which usually lies in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the human abdomen. It is one of the cardinal signs of hypersplenism. Splenomegaly is usually associated with increased workload (such as in hemolytic anemias), which suggests that it is a response to hyperfunction. It is therefore not surprising that splenomegaly is associated with any disease process that involves abnormal red blood cells being destroyed in the spleen.

Signs of splenomegaly may include a palpable left upper quadrant abdominal mass or splenic rub. Patients may also be cytopenic. Patients with splenomegaly may present with abdominal pain, early satiety due to splenic encroachment, and may complain of the symptoms of anemia due to accompanying cytopenia. It can be detected by physicians on physical examination, but an ultrasound can be used to confirm diagnosis.^[1]

1 Treatment
2 Causes
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Treatment

If the splenomegaly underlies hypersplenism, a splenectomy is indicated and will correct the problem. After splenectomy, however, patients have an increased risk for infectious diseases.

After splenectomy, patients should be vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. They should receive annual influenza vaccinations. Long-term prophylactic antibiotics should be given.

[edit] Causes

[edit] Infections

[edit] Cancer/tumors

[edit] Hematological

thalassemia
Early stages of sickle cell anemia
spherocytosis (congenital or acquired)

[edit] Storage / Infiltrative disease

[edit] Other

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ Grover S, Barkun A, Sackett D (1993). "The rational clinical examination. Does this patient have splenomegaly?". JAMA 270 (18): 2218-21. PMID 8411607.