Causative & risk factors
Splenomegaly can occur as a result of several infections or disease conditions. The infections could be parasitis (such as malaria), viral (such as infectious mononucleosis) or bacterial (such as syphilis). Other disease conditions that can cause splenic enlargement include cancers, hemolytic anemia, metabolic disorders, liver cirrhosis etc.
Depending upon the cause and the treatment undertaken, an enlarged spleen may or may not go back to its original size.
Clinical presentation
An enlarged spleen may not produce any symptoms in some patients. Others may experience discomfort or pain in the abdomen, which may also be felt at the left shoulder. If the spleen presses onto the stomach, the patient may experience easy satiety. The patient may become anemic and experience fatigue. He may start bleeding a lot even with minor injuries and is prone to frequent infections. The patient may experience difficulty in breathing.
Investigations
The doctor can palpate an enlarged spleen easily. A complete blood count is performed in all patients. He/she may be asked to undergo an imaging test such as an ultrasound, CT or MRI scan. Further testing is recommended on the basis of the suspected cause of splenomegaly.
Treatment
Diagnosis of underlying cause is necessary to decide the line of treatment. If the underlying cause of splenomegaly such as infections, tumor etc is treated, the spleen may come back to its natural size. In severe cases, splenectomy i.e. surgical removal of the spleen is done.
