Enlarged spleen

[Lizzy Liz]

An enlarged spleen is not a disease in itself but the result of an underlying disorder. Many disorders can make the spleen enlarge.

Many disorders, including infections, anemias, and cancers, can cause an enlarged spleen.
Symptoms are usually not very specific but can include fullness or pain in the upper left abdomen or back.
Usually doctors can feel an enlarged spleen, but ultrasonography and other imaging tests may be used to determine how large the spleen is.
Treating the disorder that is causing the spleen to enlarge usually takes care of the problem, but sometimes the spleen must be removed.

(See also Overview of the Spleen.)
To pinpoint the cause of an enlarged spleen, doctors must consider disorders ranging from chronic infections to blood cancers.
An enlarged spleen may outgrow its own blood supply. When parts of the spleen do not get enough blood, they may become damaged, causing them to bleed or die.