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
- tuberculosis (miliary)
- tularaemia
- subacute bacterial endocarditis
- typhoid fever
- brucellosis
- syphilis
- abscess
- fungal
- histoplasmosis (common)
- candidiasis
- parasitic disease
- malaria *
- schistosomiasis
- hydatid disease
- leishmaniasis (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
- pseudocyst
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
-<p><strong>Splenomegaly</strong> 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. <strong>Massive splenomegaly </strong>is a term used when the spleen weighs >1000 g <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The causes of splenomegaly are protean, and can be thought of under a number of headings:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Splenomegaly</strong> is a term which refers to enlargement of the spleen. The normal adult splenic length upper limit is usually around 12 cm. Also one should know how to calculate splenic index, volume and mass by CT and MR techniques. <strong>Massive splenomegaly </strong>is a term used when the spleen weighs >1000 g <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The causes of splenomegaly are protean, and can be thought of under a number of headings:</p><ul>
-<li><a title="Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura" href="/articles/thrombotic-thrombocytopaenic-purpura">thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/thrombotic-thrombocytopaenic-purpura">thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)</a></li>
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