Aims and objectives

To be able to know identify cause of splenomegaly(spleen

enlargement)
To be able to identify symptoms related to spleen enlargement
To be able to give an overview of treatment for splenomegaly
1. Common causes of splenomegaly
Infections
Viral infections, such as mononucleosis
Parasitic infections, such as toxoplasmosis
Bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (an infection of your
heart's valves)
Cancer
Leukemia, a cancer in which white blood cells displace normal
blood cells
Lymphoma, a cancer of lymph tissue, such as Hodgkin's disease
Other causes of an enlarged spleen include:
Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis
Trauma, such as an injury during contact sports
2. Clinical Symptoms of an Enlarged Spleen
Most people don't know they have an enlarged spleen because
symptoms are rare. People usually find out about it during a physical
exam. These are the most common symptoms of an enlarged
spleen:
Being unable to eat a large meal.
Feeling discomfort, fullness, or pain on the upper left side of the
abdomen; this pain may spread to your left shoulder.
If you have pain that is severe or gets worse when taking a deep
breath, see your doctor right away.
Your doctor will ask you questions and do a physical exam to
diagnose an enlarged, painful spleen. This involves palpating
(examining by touch) your spleen. You will also likely need
diagnostic tests to confirm the cause of the swollen spleen. These
may include blood tests, an ultrasound, or computerized
tomography (CT) scan. In some cases, other tests may be needed.
3. Treatment

Medical treatment: In many conditions, the spleen enlarges in

response to another medical condition, for example, cirrhosis. The
main objective is then not to improve splenomegaly that is a
consequence of the disease, but to treat the underlying cause, such
as cirrhosis.
In many other situations, such as infections, lymphomas, or
leukemias, again the treatment is directed towards the underlying
disorder, using antibiotics or chemotherapy.
Surgical treatment: Occasionally, the indicated treatment is surgical
removal of the spleen (splenectomy) in order to control the
causative conditions. Some conditions in which splenectomy may be
considered are hairy cell leukemia, thalassemia major, splenic vein
thrombosis, Gaucher disease, and ITP.
Note the importance of vaccination in cases of splenectomy. People
without a spleen (asplenia) are at a high risk for significant
infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis,
and Hemophilus influenzae. Therefore, vaccination against these
bacteria (pneumococcal vaccine, meningococcal vaccine,
hemophilus vaccine) is strongly recommended in anyone who
undergoes splenectomy.

References
Rull, D. (2015). Splenomegaly and Hypersplenism Information Page |
Patient.co.uk. [online] Patient.co.uk. Available at:
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Splenomegaly-andHypersplenism.htm [Accessed 28 Jan. 2015].
Webmd.com, (2015). Enlarged Spleen: Causes, Symptoms, and
Treatments. [online] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/digestivedisorders/enlarged-spleen-causes-symptoms-and-treatments?
page=2#1 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2015].