About Spleen, Enlarged (Enlarged Spleen)
Learn about the disease, illness and/or condition Spleen, Enlarged (Enlarged Spleen) including: symptoms, causes, treatments, contraindications and conditions at ClusterMed.info.
Spleen, Enlarged (Enlarged Spleen)
Spleen, Enlarged (Enlarged Spleen) |
---|
Spleen, Enlarged (Enlarged Spleen) InformationEnlarged spleen (splenomegaly) facts
Can an enlarged spleen be prevented?An enlarged spleen is the consequence of an underlying illnesses, many of which may not be anticipated or prevented.
How is the diagnosis of an enlarged spleen made?An enlarged spleen is most often found on physical examination. Either the health care practitioner is looking for an enlarged spleen because of a diagnosis that has already been made, or it is found incidentally when initially examining a patient (and it then serves as a clue to an underlying diagnosis). With its location protected beneath the left lower ribs, a normal spleen is usually not felt on physical exam, except in some unusually thin individuals. As it enlarges, the spleen grows from the left upper quadrant of the abdomen towards the umbilicus (the belly button). Sometimes the doctor will ask the patient to roll on their right side to better attempt to feel the spleen. An enlarged spleen may not be felt in obese patients. On occasion, an enlarged spleen may be diagnosed by plain X-ray, ultrasound, abdominal CT scan, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). What are other signs and symptoms of an enlarged spleen?
What are the causes of an enlarged spleen?
What complications are associated with an enlarged spleen?Perhaps the most important worry with an enlarged spleen is the risk of injury as it grows beyond the protection of the rib cage. A minor injury may cause it to rupture and bleed. Spleen injuries are often treated by observation, but on occasion, the spleen can rupture causing life-threatening internal bleeding requiring surgery for to remove the spleen. This is the reason that teenagers and young adults diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis need to wait until the spleen returns to its normal size, and is protected by the rib cage, before participating in activities where the enlarged spleen could be damaged. All types of blood cells may become trapped in a large spleen. Anemia (low red blood cell count) may cause
What is the prognosis for someone with an enlarged spleen?Often, the prognosis for an enlarged spleen depends entirely upon the underlying illness. For example, in patients with infectious mononucleosis, the spleen will return to its normal size once the infection resolves. In some instances, the spleen may need to be removed and the risk of infection may increase. In other cases, the spleen will remain enlarged and leave the patient at an increased risk for bleeding, spleen rupture, and infection. What is the spleen, and what does it do (function)?The spleen is an important organ in the body that has a variety of responsibilities.
What is the treatment for an enlarged spleen?Because splenomegaly is due to an underlying illness, treatment will depend upon the primary cause. In some situations, removal of the spleen (splenectomy) may be part of the treatment. For example, in hereditary spherocytosis, misshapen red blood cells are filtered from the blood stream causing anemia and an enlarged spleen. Splenectomy limits the number of red blood cells destroyed and helps treat the disease. What type of pain, and where is the pain located with an enlarged spleen?
Where is the spleen, and what does it look like?The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm and next to the stomach. It has a very rich blood supply since it is responsible for filtering blood, and it is protected by the 9th, 10th, and 11th ribs. Normally, it is the size of an orange or a small fist. The spleen has two types of tissue; the red pulp is responsible for filtering blood, while the white pulp is responsible for its immune function. |
More Diseases
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Diseases & Illnesses Definitions Of The Day
- Conization, Cervix (Colposcopy) ‐ Acetic acid wash for colposcopy, Based on the colposcopy results …
- Pneumonic Plague (Plague Facts) ‐ Could plague be used as a biological weapon?, How do physicians diagnose plague? …
- Bleeding in the Eye (Subconjunctival Hemorrhage) ‐ Are there home remedies for a subconjunctival hemorrhage?, How do health care professionals diagnose a subconjunctival hemorrhage? …
- Implants, Endometrial (Endometriosis) ‐ Can endometriosis be prevented?, Can surgery cure endometriosis? …
- Rectal Polyps (Colon Polyps) ‐ Are the size of colon polyps related to cancer risk?, Can colon polyps be prevented? …
- Apophysitis Calcaneus (Sever Condition) ‐ How is Sever condition diagnosed?, What are signs and symptoms of Sever condition? …
- Erythema Infectiosum (Fifth Disease) ‐ Are there other symptoms that can occur with fifth disease?, Fifth disease facts …
- Rehabilitation for Broken Back (Spinal Cord Injury: Treatments and Rehabilitation) ‐ How Does a Spinal Cord Injury Affect the Rest of the Body?, How Does Rehabilitation Help People Recover From Spinal Cord Injuries? …
- Infant Hydrocele (Hydrocele (Pediatric, Testicular)) ‐ Communicating hydroceles, How are hydroceles diagnosed?, Hydrocele facts …
- Chronic Hepatitis B (Hepatitis B) ‐ Hepatitis B facts, How is hepatitis B diagnosed?, How is the hepatitis B virus spread (transmitted)? …