Splenomegaly
Updates to Article Attributes
Splenomegaly is a term which refers to enlargement of the spleen. The normal adult splenic length upper limit is usually around 12-15 cm. Also one should know how to calculate splenic index, volume and mass by CT and MR techniques. Massive splenomegaly is a term used when the spleen weighs >1000 g 5.
Pathology
The causes of splenomegaly are protean, and can be thought of under a number of headings:
- haematological disease
- haemodynamic
- infectious
- storage diseases/metabolic/infiltrative disorders
- neoplastic (non-haematologic)
- traumatic
- connective tissue disorders
Haematological disease
- anaemias
- neoplastic/proliferative/redistribution of haematopoesis
Haemodynamic
- cirrhosis: portal hypertension (common)
- congestive splenomegaly (Banti syndrome)
- splenic vein obstruction
- portal vein obstruction
- right heart failure
Infection
- viral
- bacterial
- fungal
- histoplasmosis (common)
- candidiasis
- parasitic disease
- malaria *
- schistosomiasis
- hydatid disease
-
leishmaniasis
kala(kala-azar)
- rickettsial
- typhus
Storage diseases/metabolic/infiltrative disorders
- Gaucher disease
- glycogen storage disease
- mucopolysaccharidoses
- Niemann-Pick disease
- haemochromatosis
- amyloidosis
- porphyria
- sarcoidosis
Neoplastic (non-haematologic)
- lymphoma: (common)
- metastases (breast, lung, colon, ovary, melanoma)
- haemangioma
- lymphangioma
- angiosarcoma
Trauma
- haematoma
-
pseduocystpseudocyst
Connective tissue disorders
* = may cause massive splenomegaly 3
Radiographic features
The shape and orientation of a spleen makes accurate linear measurement difficult.
On CT, a splenic width measurement (largest anterior-posterior measurement on axial images) of greater than 10.5 cm is the most accurate single measurement for mild to moderate splenomegaly, in patients with cirrhosis; while a cranial-caudal height measurement of greater than 14.6 cm is the most accurate single measurement for massive splenomegaly.4.
On sonographic assessment, a length of 12 cm is generally considered the upper limit of normal.
See also
-<li><a href="/articles/thrombotic-thrombocytopaenic-purpura">thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP)</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/thrombotic-thrombocytopaenic-purpura">thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)</a></li>
-<li><a href="/articles/tularemia">tularemia</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/tularemia">tularaemia</a></li>
-<a href="/articles/leishmaniasis">leishmaniasis</a> kala-azar)</li>- +<a href="/articles/leishmaniasis">leishmaniasis</a> (kala-azar)</li>
-<li>pseduocyst</li>- +<li>pseudocyst</li>
-<li><a href="/articles/still-s-disease">Still's disease</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/still-s-disease">Still disease</a></li>
-</ul><p>* = may cause massive splenomegaly<sup> 3</sup></p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>The shape and orientation of a spleen makes accurate linear measurement difficult.</p><p>On CT, a splenic width measurement (largest anterior-posterior measurement on axial images) of greater than 10.5 cm is the most accurate single measurement for mild to moderate splenomegaly, while a cranial-caudal height measurement of greater than 14.6 cm is the most accurate single measurement for massive splenomegaly.<sup>4</sup></p><p>On sonographic assessment, a length of 12 cm is generally considered the upper limit of normal. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul>- +</ul><p>* may cause massive splenomegaly<sup> 3</sup></p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>The shape and orientation of a spleen makes accurate linear measurement difficult.</p><p>On CT, a splenic width measurement (largest anterior-posterior measurement on axial images) of greater than 10.5 cm is the most accurate single measurement for mild to moderate splenomegaly in patients with cirrhosis; while a cranial-caudal height measurement of greater than 14.6 cm is the most accurate single measurement for massive splenomegaly <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>On sonographic assessment, a length of 12 cm is generally considered the upper limit of normal. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul>
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